College Proves Its Obsolescence, Points Out Students' Addicted to New Media
MEH
College Proves Its Obsolescence, Points Out Students' Addicted to New Media
THE INTERNET IS AN ADDICTIVE SINKHOLE THAT USERS INCREASINGLY SUBSTITUTE for relationships, television and other pastimes, suggests a study by the University of Maryland.
Though reports on the research were spare in specifics, the study found that students displayed classic signs of withdrawal -- craving and anxiety -- after foregoing the use of all new media for 24 hours.
"The dependency is sickening," one student allegedly said.
"Between having a BlackBerry, a laptop, a television, and an iPod, people have become unable to shed their media skin."
Oddly, the study notes the students' lack of consumption and loyalty to traditional television news or newspapers.
Although the American Psychiatric Association does not officially recognize Internet addiction, such dangers have been written about anecdotally in the media for years. In 2006, Rutgers University School of Business’s Gayle Porter claimed some users would “give up time with family...They'll give up getting together with friends. They'll give up taking care of themselves, getting enough sleep -- things like that."
The study’s take-away message: yawn. Because anyone who’s reading this is probably already teetering while traversing new media's slippery slope.
Shake us when you can report the iPatch has been invented for treating electronic addictions.
Tags: Buzz
