Dr. Sam Kannampally

The Internet provides both tremendous opportunities and challenges for everybody. Children can now easily find information on anything imaginable. Extended families separated by distance can close the gap by using the Internet to swap pictures and e-mail. However, the Internet is not without its problems, and your discernment will be required to get the best out of it for your family. Like the television, however, this new medium has proven to be a sometimes ill-mannered house guest.

As an unregulated medium, the Internet delivers illegal and undesirable material right into the home. Even families with no Internet service in their homes are affected by access in cyber cafes and friend's homes. How do you provide yourself and your family the practical benefits of Internet technology without compromising your values?

New technology and resources are available to help parents build walls of safety and protection around their family's Internet use. However those walls will disappear as children leave the home and use the Internet in other places. For that reason, parents should also build character in their children so they can have an "internal" filter to guide their online activities everywhere they go.

Responsible Internet use requires a commitment to vigilance; an understanding of both the promise and the perils of the Web; and a willingness to learn how modern technology can safeguard your loved ones.

Addicted to Cyberspace

Addicted to the Internet? Is that really a credible form of "addiction?"

The Internet is a good way to find information, communicate with others, relax and be entertained. But for people with problems, the Internet offers an unhealthy escape to an alternate reality. Because the Net is useful and socially acceptable, abusing it isn’t classified as unacceptable as alcohol or drug misuse - but it’s just as real an addiction.

Like any addiction, the Internet becomes trouble when it interferes with other parts of users’ lives. If sleep, schoolwork, job, social life and schedule are affected, there’s a problem.

A study conducted by ABC News and psychologist David Greenfield concluded that almost 6 percent of computer users, or more than 11 million people, suffer from some form of Internet addiction.

It isn't just the endless porn sites and chat rooms that concern addiction specialists. Increasing tolerance of long hours spent online, withdrawal symptoms and unsuccessful efforts to reign in out-of-control Internet use are all characteristics of what some professionals call Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). Here are a few areas where cyber junkies get hooked:

Sexual interaction: Even teens venture into sexually charged adult chat rooms, cybersex and porn sites either by accident or intentionally.

Online relationships: Teens struggling with low self-esteem may tune out friends and family to meet and impress people with a made-up identity online. Cyber interaction replaces reality.

Compulsive behaviors: Online gambling, auctions and obsessive trading may start innocently. But because dollars aren’t changing hands at the moment, a user may not realize how much he has spent until the bills come in. Some might steal credit cards from parents or friends to pay the debts.

Info searches: School research can lead to obsession with finding more interesting Web sites. Gaining knowledge is good, but it’s wrong when the search controls the researcher.

Fun and games: There’s nothing wrong with having fun and relaxing, but the line gets crossed when it interferes with normal life and activities.

According to Dr. Kimberly S. Young, Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and founder of the Center for On-Line Addiction (COLA), the Internet is a much more addictive than television and radio because it's interactive, anonymous, and unregulated.

COLA reports that more 70 percent of those diagnosed with IAD (specifically in the area of sexualized behavior) never had a problem with sexual issues prior to going online. This, however, does not discourage the millions of people who have Internet or cyber affairs.

Churches, too, are beginning to speak out on Internet addiction. The Roman Catholic Church, for example, recently took the position that cybersex indeed qualifies as adultery, and both pastors and Christian counseling agencies are being bombarded with couples seeking help.

"ACE" Model for understanding Internet addiction

Anonymity. The addicted individual doesn't have to worry about his/her spouse finding magazines hidden under beds or in closets. There are no 1-800 numbers to show up on the phone bill, and no chance someone from church will see them leaving an adult bookstore. It's between the user and the receiver on the other end. A computer-illiterate spouse will seldom discover what their spouse is doing online.

Convenience. In the privacy of your own home, you can access the world simply by logging on. With just a few keystrokes, you have romance, games, adult material and much more, literally at your fingertips. There is no need to leave your living room, change your clothes, fix your hair or spend money on expensive dates. Men who normally would not rent an adult movie will download pictures of women. Women, who would never think of talking sexy, find themselves in sexual relationships online.

Escape. Some addicted individuals perceive the Internet as a tranquilizer, others as an adrenaline rush. If the individual is having a bad day, he or she may find relief by getting on the Internet. You can be anything or anyone you want to be on the Internet. When you're online, extra pounds simply melt away, as do children and "inconvenient" spouses. You can live out a fantasy.

Logging off Internet addiction

Breaking an Internet addiction may not be easy. It’s more than simply pulling the computer plug. Like other addictions, the underlying cause must be fixed. If the Internet is being used as a substitute for friendship, you may need help learning to make and keep friends. If the Web is a way to escape reality, it might be necessary to learn some coping skills. A school or church counselor can help with these and other problems that keep you turning to the Net.

An important part of breaking out of the Web is replacing addictive uses with positive Internet habits. Here are some suggestions to help establish your own rules.

· Schedule your Internet time - when it doesn’t conflict with family or church activities.

· Set a specific time limit. When time’s up, turn your computer off - no matter what. Set a timer to remind you.

·  Put a computer block on areas of the Internet those are too tempting for you.

·  Make a list of positive, useful sites. Stick to those sites.

·  Never log on when you’re supposed to be doing something else.

·  Avoid logging on at a friend’s house, at school or at the library.

·  Get involved in social activities and hobbies unrelated to the computer.

Most importantly, if you feel you might have an Internet addiction - or are getting too close - talk to a trusted adult. Get some advice before you become further entangled in the Web!

God promises a fulfilling life (John 10:10), but addictive behaviors make it hard to experience. The good news is that He is right there ready to help us through any problems that we face - including Web addiction.

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