It should not come as a shock to anybody that the internet is assuming an undeniably significant role in our lives.. However, the speed at which that change happened may shock you. Whether it be simply surfing the internet, or finding ways to get lucky at an online casino, we have all found ourselves using the internet more than we did a decade ago, and there appear to be no signs of slowing down.
Since 2000, the time we spend online every week has consistently increased, ascending from 9.4 hours to 23.6 hours – almost a whole day, as indicated by a new report by the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future. The internet has turned into a standard part of our home lives too. The report indicated that the time spent on the internet increased more than 400% over that period, from 3.3 hours to 17.6 hours every week. The report studies over 2,000 individuals across the US every year.
The centre’s fifteenth yearly Digital Future Report outlines the internet’s sensational advancement since 2000 from a secondary medium to an imperative part of our day to day routines – consistently on and consistently with us. Many dread the future of the limitless internet that we have, to a great extent, underestimated in recent years. Keep reading to find out more about how internet use has grown and what can be done to ensure that it does not become an addiction.
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Internet And Young Adults
Young adults presently spend an average of 10 hours and 45 minutes every day, seven days per week consuming media. That converts into 75 hours and 15 minutes out of every week, almost twice the amount of hours their middle aged adults put into full-time jobs as indicated by research distributed by the Kaiser Family Foundation in January 2010.
For young adults spending all this time on media, denies them real-world experiences and may bring about lower focus rates. Too much time on the internet can also cut into the time required for sleep and increase their risk of depression, and that’s just the beginning.
If we look further inside these figures and averages there are critical differences, and knowing where you fall within these ranges is the initial phase in fully understanding whether you need to change the amount of time you spend on the internet.
Why We Spend So Much Time On Social Media
Whether it be Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube, more and more people are spending the majority of their time and sharing more of their lives online. Here’s why:
- Everyone has access to mobile technology via smartphones. With a social media app on your app, why wouldn’t you use it to post or check on your friends?
- Social media makes it easier to network and connect with people for various reasons whether it be personal or business-related.
- Some people use social media as a form of news outlet.
- Businesses use social media as a free marketing tool, as it allows them to connect directly with their customers and clients.
- People use social media as a means of feeling good about themselves. Oftentimes people will post or share pictures and videos about their lives to feel validated by either friends or strangers.
- Online communities are on the rise on social media platforms; whether it be a self-help group, a group for stay at home moms or even a group for students studying the same course as you, there’s something for everyone.
How You Can Stop Your Internet Addiction
Knowing how to distinguish between typical internet use and compulsive use is very significant for realizing when to look for help for worrisome behaviour. Internet usage normally flows to accommodate different interests and activities among healthy internet users.
Usage might spike because you had a major project to complete, recently began playing a new online game. You may also be setting up a social network, have a new crush or online relationship. You may also be trying to stay connected to long-distance friends, or for any other short-term interest. While it is engrossing and time-consuming, this is altogether different behaviour than that of someone who spends practically the entirety of their waking hours behind an internet-connected screen, disregarding work, relationships and the world.
If you are uncertain whether you fall into the last category, compare their behaviour with the list of caution signs underneath. As you go through the list, remember that if you show one (or a couple) of these behaviours, it might be cause for concern. For instance, a lot of young adults like to invest more time online as opposed to with family. We, as a whole, forget about time online every so often:if you’re hanging tight for a specific message, you might check your messages more frequently at certain times. Then again, if you read through this list and the vast majority of these signs are apparent in you or someone you know, it could be an ideal opportunity to think about the best game plan.
Warning Signs Of Compulsive Internet Use
- Preoccupation with specific internet destinations or the internet in general.
- Defensive about the time they spend online.
- Burns through money on their gadgets or online that ought to be used for food, bills, and different necessities.
- Failed attempts to control behaviour, including forceful behaviour.
- An uplifted feeling of euphoria while participating in PC and Internet activities.
- Sacrifices hours of sleep to have more time to spend online.
- Loses track of time while online.
- Becomes instead or irate when not online or their time online is interrupted.
- Spends time online instead of doing chores or schoolwork.
- Prefers to spend time online than with family or friends.
- Lies about the amount of time they spend online or “sneaks” online.
- Loses interest in activities they used to enjoy before they had online access.
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