I remember last year when the IRIS game challenge was on the Net. The prize was a measly amount, but it was shocking to see people stay up throughout the night discussing on online forums, just so that they could get help as to how to break into the next level. The frenzy, begging for clues and revealing personal information just so they could be 'helped' to the next level was unbelievable. For those of you who do not know about IRIS, it is the annual cultural meet organized by IIM, Indore and this game was put online by the IT team in IIM, so anyone could participate. What was meant to be a brainy strategic challenge became an obsession to many, especially those in technical institutions and computing professionals.

A disturbing trend is emerging among technical professionals over the past few years that in some countries such as Singapore and South Korea, governments had to help the technical workers by bringing in mental health professionals.

It all started in 1995 when author Kimberly Young, did a three year survey of Internet and computer addicts and published her path breaking book, "Caught in the Net: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet Addiction-and a Winning Strategy for Recovery" on the new malady affecting the technical professional namely Internet addiction.

What is Internet Addiction?
It is an understatement to say that the computer and the Internet have changed the way we live and communicate. We turn to our computers in search of information, e-mail friends rather than pick up the phone or write a letter. Many of us have more faceless online friends, customers, and people we communicate with than those whom we have seen and know. Some of us shop over the Internet, while others spend hours reading and replying to email, playing games, or even look for romance and/or matrimonial alliances.

However, unlike socially established addiction, which we are all aware of like addiction to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and TV, many are unaware of computer and Internet addiction.

According to Jeri Samson and Beth Keen, Ph.D. who run the 'not my kid' website for Internet addicts, "The term 'Internet addiction' actually refers to a broad range of behaviors. Researchers in the field have identified five different types of Internet addiction. They are as follows:

• Net-Gaming: This doesn't include just playing games online, but also gambling in virtual casinos, e-auctions, and online shopping. This type of addiction can be expensive as these individuals may rake up charges on a spouse's credit card or a hefty Internet phone bill.

• Cyber-Relational Addiction: Online relationships in chat rooms become more important than relationships with family and non-internet friends. Concerns that the individual may attempt to meet an online acquaintance in person should be taken seriously, as there is no way of knowing whom someone met over the Internet.

• Information Overload: The amount of data available on the Internet is virtually unlimited. Some individuals may become obsessed with tracking down certain types of information and organizing it. Surfing the Web and conducting extensive searches of online databases may become an all-consuming activity, reaching obsessive-compulsive levels.

• Computer Addiction: While not a true Internet addiction, computer addiction shares a lot of the same qualities. Computer games that can be played without access to the Internet can also become addictive to some individuals. This may also happen with games played on platforms such as Sega and Play Station.

• Cyber sexual Addiction: Pornography is easily obtainable on the Internet. A determined Internet user may get access to pornographic websites despite the use of the most sophisticated parental control software. Adolescents and adults who have a cyber sexual addiction typically spend time viewing, downloading or trading online pornography. They may also participate in adult fantasy and/or role-play chat rooms, typically with members much older than themselves. These people may even be enticed to send pornographic pictures or videos of themselves to other online users.

Who Can Become an Internet Junkie?
Unfortunately, those who have to spend even their work hours on the computer, especially those in support services are considered to be mostly at risk. However, it can be anyone who can access the Internet or computer. With broadband, work at home projects, and increasing number of B2Bs in India, the number of affected people can become endless.

Sikan*, a 45 year-old businessperson and CEO of a computer services company in Chennai, just cannot stop playing 'Spider Solitaire' on his computer. He says, "What is wrong with sitting in front of a computer screen for several hours each day? Most of my employees' do the same, as it is a computer related business. Therefore, I take a break by playing games. So what? My family and lot of Indians sit in front of their TVs for similar amounts of time each night."

Sikan may justify his addiction versus his family's watching TV, but unfortunately, both are addictions. The problem with Sikan is that the borderline between work and addiction has been breached. Also, this is a symptom of the larger problem, namely dysfunctional families.

Sara*, a 15 year-old in India took to her new computer like fish to water. Her parents were extremely proud that she could do so many things they couldn't. 'Computer Wiz', is how they referred to her as. They noticed things were wrong only when she started refusing to go to school and would spend her time playing computer games at night instead of sleeping. Today, Sara is a drop out and her parents are trying to get her back into school.

Why Should Internet Addiction be Taken Seriously?
There is a very wide range of behavior that might be considered addictive, and not all of it is necessarily harmful. The positive benefits derived from the pleasure of the addiction need to be weighed against the negative effects it may have on the rest of a person's life. It is clearly negative if Internet use becomes obsessive, causing financial, emotional, social, health or marital problems.

When I asked Dr Alan Auerbach, author and psychology expert, Canada, if this addiction can cause emotional disorders, he replied, "As with all addictions, it's hard to state a straight-line connection. Someone obsessed with making money, for instance, might be happy and productive only when doing so, whereas someone equally obsessed with a movie star might feel distress and seek treatment when others deem this to be inappropriate and wasteful. Moreover, how do we separate the addiction from the secondary effects? For instance, one gambling addict becomes suicidal when all the money is gone, whereas another, who gambles only 'on paper,' writes books on probability theory. A common concern with computer addiction is that it's anti-social."

Computers have become essential to our daily lives and it is up to us, to determine, if we wish to be addicts or not. However, if you or you know someone who is an Internet addict, remember you need to stop living in denial and seek help. You can find help online or with help of family and 'real' friends, and make a conscious choice to change. The Internet makes our planet a small world, but just make sure that this wonderful tool, which binds us, does not become bondage.

*Names changed on request.

-Deepa Kandaswamy

The author is the founder-moderator of the IndianWISE e-group

These are personal views

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