University Essay: Internet Addiction, Effects, and Interventions

This essay delves into the multifaceted issue of internet addiction, examining its detrimental impacts on both mental and physical health, particularly among students and employees. The study meticulously analyzes academic research, articles, and journals to identify the root causes of this addiction, including changing lifestyles, environmental factors, and the allure of social media and online gaming. The essay highlights the severe consequences of excessive internet use, such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and decreased academic and professional productivity. Furthermore, it explores potential interventions, emphasizing the importance of spending time with family, fostering self-control, and seeking support to combat internet addiction effectively. The research underscores the need for awareness and proactive measures to mitigate the negative effects of excessive internet usage, promoting a balanced approach to technology and well-being. The research also emphasizes the role of academic research in providing insights into the problem of internet addiction.

Academic Research and
Writing

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Internet addiction and its effects on people.................................................................................1
Reflection (500)...........................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Academic research can be defined as systematic investigation into a problem where
people wants to identify facts and all informations related to the topic and selecting sources or
articles (Pyrczak and Tcherni-Buzzeo, 2018). This present study is going to analyse articles
related to internet addiction and its effects on people as how it affects their mental and physical
health. This study shows several negative effects of internet addiction specially on students as it
is affecting their mental health and career development opportunities because they spent their a
lot of time in social media and internet. They give less focus on their studies and academic which
sometimes make them depressed.
Internet addiction and its effects on people
It is stated that internet has made all works easier as organizations and people are making
effective use of internet in order to perform their works. It is being used in all fields like
education, organizations, industries, hospitals and others. Uses of internet to some extent and in
an effective manner can have several positive impacts but when it becomes addiction than it has
several negative effects on mental and physical health of people. In this context, (Internet
Addiction and its Effects on Mental Health, 2019) said that addiction of internet is a harmful
technology as it is affecting students to the great extent. There are several students who spend
their lot of time in internet and on social media. They check their mobile phones in every ten
minutes and this addiction is affecting their study and career development. It is also reported that
as compare to ancient students, students of these generation do not have deep knowledge of any
field as they only study for getting passing grades. It also affects their mental health as they face
problems in sleeping and this problem make them depressed. So, it can be said that excessive use
of internet by university students leads to depression, anxiety, headache, problems of back ache
and other mental and physical health problems. Eventually it affects their academic performance
(Nath, Naskar and Victor, 2016).
In addition, (Understanding Internet Addiction, 2019) stated that internet addiction is
more in males as compare to females. As compare to females, males of boys have willingness
and desire to use Smartphone, gaming and others and this makes them internet addiction.
Gaming is one of the main elements which make students and boys internet addiction and
1

affecting their studies to the great extent. There are several online games are available which
makes students addict of them and they even do not realize that how much time they have
actually spent and spending daily in this. It is important for students to realize that how internet
addiction is spoiling their lives and to which extent it is affecting their lives, their mental and
their physical health. They will have to suffer many problems if they do not leave this addiction.
In this context....some factors are being associated which are making people especially students
addicted of internet. Some factors include: anxiety, environmental factors, changing lifestyle and
others. In this context of causes, (Amin, 2019) stated that changing life style is one of the main
factors which is becoming students and children internet addict. Parents are becoming busy in
their lives and job as they do not spent time on their children they do not even have time to
interact with their children. Children at this age of 10-25 need someone who can understand their
feelings with whom they can share everything and when they do not find someone than for
filling emotional needs gap, they make use of internet. They make online friends and share their
feelings with them. At this age they do not have knowledge between the right and the wrong so,
they cannot identify as whatever they are doing is right or wrong. Sometimes sharing feelings
and all things with online friends become the reason of crimes and becoming victim of crimes. It
is important to identify causes for preventing children. So, it can be said that changing life style,
environmental factors are some causes of internet addiction ().
It is analysed from this article (Internet Addiction, Hilarie cash . et.al., 2012) that internet
addiction is having several mental health problems for people who use internet to the great
extent. It is not only affecting children but also it is affecting employees as they find difficulties
in concentrating their work. Surfing to the great extent consumes their time and it delays in
submitting their project. This affects their productivity and image in the eyes of others. All these
factors make them depressed and tensed as they often find problem in managing time and
completing the given project and task on the time. So, it can be said that it affects productivity of
organizations. Many researcher clinical has also noted that variety of mental disorders occur with
IAD. But with the help of some techniques, using approaches and interventions the problem of
internet addiction can be solved out. One of the best ways which can prevent students and al
people against this internet addiction is becoming busy and spending time with family members
and close friends. Because it is identified that the main problem is children and people who feel
lonely are more likely to spent time in internet. They also said that changing lifestyle of people
2

like becoming busy of parent is other main reason or cause of internet addiction. So, it is
important for parents to understand consequences of internet addiction and important to spent
time with family members and children (Longstreet, Brooks and Gonzalez, 2019). By increasing
skill of self control can also help people to prevent themselves against this internet addiction.
Reflection
On the basis of above analysis, I can say that academic research plays an important role
as it allows people to analyse research or sources like articles, books and journals on a specific
topic. One of the main aim of analysing articles and academic research is to identify all
informations related to selected topic like factors, consequences, importance, effects and
interventions. This analysis in a deep manner can help students and people to review and get
knowledge related to that topic in an effective manner. Academic research and analysis on the
topic of internet addiction increased my knowledge to the great extent. I came to know some
causes or factors which are creating this problem and making people especially internet addict. I
also came to known that to which extent internet addiction is having problems and effects on
mental and physical health of children and people. It increases my critical analysis skill as how
to analyse one article in a both positive and negative manner, how to review that article and how
to get only important informations. Reviewing the whole article and getting only important factor
is one of the main key of making academic research successful (Pfenninger and et.al., 2017).
This academic research on the topic of internet addiction and its effects made me able to
know all consequences which it is having on people who have become addicted, It is not only
affecting children and their studies but also affecting employees and other fields of people which
is having severe mental as well as physical health problems. So, it is very important to decrease
this problem and preventing people against this. Some consequences and effects which I
identified include: mental health problems like headache, depression, difficulties in sleeping etc.
Some other problems like headache, problem in concentrating in studies, projects by employees
in offices etc. All these can affect productivity and decrease image as well. Some interventions I
also identified which can help children, student and people against internet addiction. One of the
best ways which above academic research on the topic of internet addiction shows is becoming
busy, spending time with family members rather spending time in internet. I came to know that
for getting effective interventions and ways to solve the problem, it is important to identify
3

causes because it is linked with interventions. Without identifying the main root cause, best
suggestions and ways cannot be identified (Ross, Perkins and Bodey, 2016). So, overall I can say
that academic research is one of the best ways of analysing and getting all informations of
sources like books and journals, articles on specific topic may be related to children, students,
academic field, corporate field, current issues etc. I can also say that I accomplish the main goal
of academic research which is to get new knowledge which can develop social enhancement and
skills related to the selected topic of academic research. I can now share my feelings and convey
ideas in regards to this topic with my colleagues and friends.
CONCLUSION
From the above assignment, it can be concluded internet addiction has several negative
impacts on mental as well as physical health of people. It has critic this topic and all articles
related to internet addiction. It has shown that this addiction has affected a lot of people and
especially to students to the great extent.
4

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Amin, G., 2019. ACADEMIC PROCRASTINATION OF COLLEGE STUDENTS. Jurnal
Muara Ilmu Ekonomi dan Bisnis. 3(2). pp.431-442.
Longstreet, P., Brooks, S. and Gonzalez, E.S., 2019. Internet addiction: When the positive
emotions are not so positive. Technology in Society. 57. pp.76-85.
Nath, K., Naskar, S. and Victor, R., 2016. A cross-sectional study on the prevalence, risk factors,
and ill effects of internet addiction among medical students in Northeastern India. The
primary care companion for CNS disorders. 18(2).
Pyrczak, F. and Tcherni-Buzzeo, M., 2018. Evaluating research in academic journals: A practical
guide to realistic evaluation. Routledge.
Pfenninger, S. and et.al., 2017. The importance of open data and software: Is energy research
lagging behind?. Energy Policy. 101. pp.211-215.
Ross, M., Perkins, H. and Bodey, K., 2016. Academic motivation and information literacy self-
efficacy: The importance of a simple desire to know. Library & information science
research. 38(1). pp.2-9.
Online
Understanding Internet Addiction. 2019. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.healthline.com/health/causes-of-internet-addiction#symptoms>
Internet Addiction and its Effects on Mental Health. 2019. [Online]. Available through
<https://europepmc.org/article/ppr/ppr123896>
Internet Addiction. 2012. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3480687/>
5