the ihigh: recognizing the emerging addiction our world has to technology
DESCRIPTION
A look at how our society has evolved to the point where we don't just use technology and social media- we need it. (Film 260 Flipbook Assignment, May 2013)TRANSCRIPT
Photo via Flickr commons by philcampbell
The iHIgh: Recognizing
the emerging
addiction our world
has to technology
By: Meghan Froebelius
One reason people use Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking websites regularly is
“because of an addiction to endorphins released in the body during the process of posting.”
Photo via Flickr commons by idovermani Source: Anthony Carpio, Social Networking Sites Creates High for Users
Photo via Flickr commons by west.m
Every notification could mean
something exciting. This results in a hit
of dopamine. Source: Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction
Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology
“Each ‘hit’ feeds our social media addiction.”
Photo via Flickr commons by west.mSource: Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology
The chemicals give us a feeling of
REWARD that rushes through
the brain and body with every
notification. This reward becomes
something we CRAVE.
Photo via Flickr commons by LawPrieR
Source: Anthony Carpio, Social Networking Sites Creates High for Users
Repeatedly checking social media creates an addiction similar to using coke, meth, or other
abusive substances. This creates
the iHigh.
Photo via Flickr commons by Steve Snodgrass
Actually, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)
is now an accepted psychological diagnosis in China, Taiwan, and South
Korea.
Source: Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, How is Facebook Addiction Affecting Our Minds? Photo via Flickr commons by perpetualplum
America will follow in 2013.
Photo via Flickr commons by Steve Snodgrass Source: Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, How is Facebook Addiction Affecting Our Minds?
Someone with IAD will be constantly preoccupied with
the internet and will have an increasingly higher tolerance
against the ‘high’.
Photo via Flickr commons by kamshots Source: Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder?
Source: Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder?
They will also use the internet to boost their mood.
Photo via Flickr commons by Johan Larsson
Some “argue that their dependence is
actually beneficial, since it lets them be more productive professionally.”
Being constantly connected lets you
respond quickly to things such as “work emails,
making you a more valuable employee than your non-addicted
colleague.”
Source: Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder? Photo via Flickr commons by sean_hickin
But a chemical reaction isn’t the only reason for an online addiction.
Photo via Flickr commons by katerha
One reason for online indulgence is
because of the need for
VALIDATION in our lives.
Photo via Flickr commons by Denis Dervisevic
Photo via Flickr commons by owenwbrown
“The world of social media has allowed platforms like Facebook and Twitter to play on the HUMAN NEED for reinforcement and validation. It’s game mechanics for
“Likes” and “Comments” are those bits of validation.”-Hessie Jones
Source: Hessie Jones, Teaching Our Kids Not to Treat the Internet as a Private Diary
“I like ... my voice being heard somewhere where people care, so I make it heard in an environment with users who will ... read what I have to say solely out of interest.
Doing so brings me ... joy, that people care or agree with the things I say, that I really
can’t get anywhere else.”-Anonymous Internet User
Photo via Flickr commons by Johan Larsson Source: Jami Oetting, Smells Like Teen Spirit: Schooling Marketers on Tumblr
But, regardless of the reason for it, like any
addiction the iHigh will eventually have negative
repercussions.
Photo via Flickr commons from OSU Special Collections
“I get that kids need validation but this world of social has created an environment that eventually strings them
along a path to a point where the very information they created can be their greatest demise.”
-Hessie Jones
Photo via Flickr commons by Patrick Feller
Source: Hessie Jones, Teaching Our Kids Not to Treat the Internet as a Private Diary
Source: Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology
“Internet addicts
have 10-20% smaller
brain areas responsible for
speech, memory, motor control, emotion,
sensory, and other
information.”
Photo via Flickr commons by auxesis
The more connected we become with our virtual reality, the less connected we
become to our actual reality.
Photo via Flickr commons by Susan NYC
“The problem is that internet is too
much a part of business, society, and education to
quit cold turkey for most people.”
Photo via Flickr commons by Johan Larsson
Source: Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology
We need to start educating about the reality of this addiction and start preaching how just like most things,
TECHNOLOGY IS BEST USED IN MODERATION.
Photo via Flickr commons by betsyweber
“When it starts to intrude on your overall well-being,
or sanity, or it takes precedence over time
with your kids or spouse, then it
might be time to CUT BACK.”
Photo via Flickr by Giuseppe Bognanni Source: Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder?
-Alice G. Walton
Articles & Images Sourced(Slideshow made May 17, 2013)
Anthony Carpio, Social Networking Sites Creates High for Users http://sundial.csun.edu/2011/08/social-networking-sites-creates-high-for-users/
Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder? http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/10/02/the-new-mental-health-disorder-internet-addiction/
Hessie Jones, Teaching Our Kids Not to Treat the Internet as a Private Diary http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/hessie-jones/teens-oversharing-internet_b_2923694.html
Jami Oetting, Smells Like Teen Spirit: Schooling Marketers on Tumblr http://www.agencypost.com/smells-like-teen-spirit-schooling-marketers-on-tumblr/
Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology http://mashable.com/2012/11/03/facebook-addiction/
All images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons and have an Attributions license