Internet phobia
Internet phobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiousness where the person perceives the Internet environment to be unsafe with no easy way to hide from it.[1] The term internet phobia is derived from the combination of Internet meaning internetwork and the Greek -φοβία, -phobia, meaning "fear".[2] It is different from cyber phobia; cyber phobia is associated with fear of new technologies, while Internet phobia is more or less a social issue.
Specific anxiety-raising situations can include using a computer or mobile phone, reading email, accessing the web, Facebook or other social media, but also being in open spaces, public transit, shopping malls, or simply being outside the home due to the risk of being photographed or otherwise Internet-logged in these situations.[1] Being in any of these situations may result in a panic attack.[3]
It is suggested that Internet phobia may affect about 1.7% of adults. Women are affected about twice as often as men. Unlike other phobias, the condition is more prevalent in later adulthood and is also common in old age.[4] Specifically, it is more easily found among government officials and celebrities, with some of them being afraid of the leak of their privacy and consequent influences on their daily life, some being afraid of the reveal of their corruption, and so on.[5] It is rare in children.[4]
Symptoms
People with Internet phobia have several symptoms including weakness, shortness of breath, insomnia, etc. They are terrified of surfing the Internet, unwilling to talk about public opinions appearing on the Internet. Some of them even see the Internet as a formidable enemy.[5] The symptoms occur nearly every time specific anxiety-raising situations are encountered and repeat themselves for a period of more than six months. Those affected will go to great lengths to avoid these situations.[1] In severe cases, people become severely handicapped through their inability to carry out Internet-related activity.[3]
Cause
The cause of Internet phobia is likely a combination of environmental factors. The condition can run in families,[1] between friends, or in other intimate relationships. Or perhaps they did something shameful or criminal that they do not want revealed. Perhaps they simply experienced stressful events.
Besides, considerable external factors like the timeliness, the interactivity, and the wide coverage of the Internet also contribute to the panic. In other words, the unpredictable technological advances in recent years not only provide convenience but also pose a threat to personal privacy.[6] More and more films and TV programs these days are involved in this problem. For instance, the third episode of the third series of British science fiction anthology series Black Mirror "Shut up and Dance", shows how hackers threaten a teenage boy and finally force him to commit bizarre and criminal acts after recording his masturbation through an anti-malware. Today, this kind of black technology is realizable. This is the most important external factor that makes Internet phobia more and more widespread.
Internet phobia has yet to be classified in the DSM-5 alongside specific phobia and social phobia.[1][7] Other conditions that can produce similar symptoms include separation anxiety, agoraphobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorder. Those affected are at higher risk of depression and substance use disorder.[1]
Probable consequences
Internet phobia causes sufferers to experience social anxiety disorder (SAD), and will eventually lead to a lack of self-confidence and unwillingness to socialize.[8] That is a significant transformation in one's life.
Internet phobia originates from the Internet and will, in turn, affect the Internet. People with Internet phobia are averse to using networks, and this will definitely cause a decrease in the number of Internet users and lead to a worldwide debate. Although reflection on the Internet and its rapid development is necessary in some way, the probable coming international discussion is the last thing we would like to see. This kind of rethink, especially caused by such a trivial thing as an uncommon mental disease, only holds back the development of the Internet. The truth is, every coin has two sides. It is always better to find ways to deal with Internet phobia rather than blame the Internet.
Precaution and treatment
Internet phobia is both preventable and curable. The most important preventive action tends to be surfing the Internet more actively and treating those social media platforms as valuable tools for making friends. In addition, improving the ability to make rational judgments and evaluations can also be helpful. For officials, one suggestion is to always maintain integrity.[5]
Without treatment, it is uncommon for internet phobia to resolve.[1] Treatment begins with diagnosis. Possible treatment is a type of counselling called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).[7][9] CBT results in phobia resolution for about half of people.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 American Psychiatric Association (2013), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing, pp. 217–221, 938, ISBN 0890425558 Search this book on
.
- ↑ Elster, Charles Harrington (2009). Verbal Advantage: Ten Easy Steps to a Powerful Vocabulary. Diversified Publishing. p. PT717. ISBN 9780307560971 Search this book on .
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Agoraphobia". PubMed Health. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Psychiatric Association (2013), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing, pp. 217–221, 938, ISBN 0890425558 Search this book on .
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Internet phobia". "Internet phobia" from Baidu Baike.
- ↑ Solove, Daniel J. (2004). The Digital Person: Technology and Privacy in the Information Age. New York University. ISBN 0814798462. Search this book on
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wyatt, Richard Jed; Chew, Robert H. (2008). Wyatt's Practical Psychiatric Practice: Forms and Protocols for Clinical Use. American Psychiatric Pub. pp. 90–91. ISBN 9781585626878 Search this book on ..
- ↑ Buss, A.H. (1980). Self-Consciousness and Social Anxiety. Search this book on
- ↑ Pompoli, A; Furukawa, TA; Imai, H; Tajika, A; Efthimiou, O; Salanti, G (13 April 2016). "Psychological therapies for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults: a network meta-analysis.". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
- ↑ Craske, MG; Stein, MB (24 June 2016). "Anxiety.". Lancet. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30381-6. PMID 27349358.
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