Rachel_DT

Rachel's Digiteen Page **C1: Habits of Learning and Managing Online Activity: Health**
 * Technical Awareness and Access **

Notes: "When you feel more comfortable with your online friends than your real ones, or you can’t stop yourself from playing games, gambling, or compulsively surfing, even when it has negative consequences in your life, then you may be using the Internet too much," states http://helpguide.org ( Saisan, Smith, Robinson, and Segal). How do you know if you have computer addition? The same website describes computer addition as continuous playing of computer games or, continuous computer programing. With addition to the computer, you miss out on your own social life. If you are always on the computer playing online games, you cannot hang out with your friends as much. Usually, according to http://helpguide.org, "about 50% of people online lie about their age, weight, job, marital status, or gender." (Saisan, Smith, Robinson, and Segal). With this many people lying, if you get in a relationship with them and then figure out who they are, you will be very sad and disappointed. Therefore, it is better to talk to people face to face than through a computer screen. Even though the computer takes away your feelings like anxiety, depression, or stress, there are other more healthy ways of removing the same feelings. Instead of being on the computer you could be exercising, meditating, or doing simple breathing exercises.

In addition to emotion problems some people give you through sites the internet has, there are also physical problems. One problem you could have is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome you will have pain and numbness in the hands and wrists. Another problem is dry eyes or strained vision. By staring at a computer screen for several hours each day your eyes are strained and get dry. Your eyes are used to being outside, instead of inside looking at a computer screen. Also, another problem is back aces, neck aces, and severe headaches. Yet another problem that the computer brings is weight gain or loss. If you are on the computer you could forget to eat or it could be the other way. You might eat more sitting next to a computer for several hours. Without exercise you need, you will not burn the calories you are consuming. Overall, the computer and social sites on the internet can harm you in emotional ways and the use of a computer each day for several hours can cause physical pain on your body. In conclusion, it is better to limit your time on the computer and spend more time on your real life than have these problems that excessive computer use brings.

Cited: Saisan, J., M. Smith, L. Robinson, and J. Segal. //Internet addiction signs, symptoms, treatment and self help//. N.p., 2011. Web. 29 Mar 2012. .