The internet is a powerful invention that has drastically changed the way that humans discover information, communicate with each other and learn. The internet’s reach is infinite, and what shows up online is discoverable forever. This vastly diverse tool can be very beneficial to many people and situations, but can also be harmful in just as many ways.
I used to think that I suffered from an extremely mild case of social anxiety. As a teenager and in my early twenties I would excitedly make plans with my friends, but would become nervous as the event approached and sometimes try to think of ways to get out of what I had agreed to attend. Most of the time I would go and enjoy myself, but always had that feeling of dread and nervousness as the social event came up. I started telling myself that I know I will have a good time if go, so why worry so much about it. I also realize that this social anxiety that was just bothersome for me is extremely debilitating for some people. I had always been a little curious about this debilitating social anxiety and the effects that the internet had on people that truly suffered from this.
The internet allows everyone access to various forms of communication: email, chat rooms, message boards, blogs, comments, social media sites, video chat, online multiplayer games and probably more that I’m not thinking of. All of these means of communication give people numerous ways to interact with others. These options can be beneficial for those that are looking for support. Winzelberg (1997) reported the results of studies showing effectiveness of online support groups for people that struggle with eating disorders. These online groups allow the users to access the group or site at anytime – allowing for flexibility in access and working around potentially busy schedules. Winzelberg also shared that these online support groups were a low cost alternative to traditional therapy. Davidson, Pennebaker and Dickerson (2000) studied virtual and non-virtual support groups and reported that the virtual groups are an attractive option to people with disabilities that are unable to move around well, or that have embarrassing issues they are going through. These virtual support groups allow people to escape their normal environment and experience some relieve in the anxiety they suffer from when able to talk to and relate to others who experience the same thing.
It is important to note however, that though online support groups can be beneficial, the person needs to make sure that they are not immersing themselves in a virtual reality. More research needs to be done to determine the effects of virtual living but previous studies have shown that internet usage decreases communication within families and increases depression and loneliness. An extreme case of immersion in a virtual reality was in South Korea in 2010, a couple’s three month old daughter died from malnutrition as the couple left her for hours at a time raising a virtual baby at a 24 hour internet cafe.
As great of a tool as it is, the internet can also be a very dangerous community. It’s true that you can be anyone you want to be online, and it is easy to depict a certain life for yourself – one that might not be the full truth. The internet, constant access to social media and cameras has also raised the bar for bullying. It also gives hate groups a place to share their thoughts and plans and spread their message.
The internet is full of different communities, some positive and some not. It can be a community of immense support and positivity but on the opposite end, the internet is also full of trolls and hate. It is important not to immerse yourself in an online community, or virtual reality. It is important to ensure you have a strong connection to the real world and social relationships.
Even though I have not immersed myself in a virtual community and I do have strong social relationships in my life, now I find that I am still dreading plans with friends, but for a different reason. I have discovered that I am the true definition of an introvert, and where many people would be energized by socializing with friends after a long day or week at work, I find this socialization exhausting after an already exhausting day or week at the office. My workplace expects a high level of visibility and interaction with everyone, and as an introvert I recharge by not having to socialize with people. I am happy as a clam spending my weekends at home under a cozy blanket with my dog and a can of Lonely Blonde (delicious and ironic).
References
Davidson, K., Pennebaker, J., & Dickerson, S. (2000). Who Talks? The social psychology of illness support groups. American Psychologist, 55, 205-217.
Dorene35. Cry For Help Memes. Retrieved from https://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/-i-have-an-introvert-hangover-im-totally-exhausted-from-too-much-human-interaction-5749d/?tagSlug=cry-for-help
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2018). PSYCH 424 Lesson 11: Communication. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1924488/modules/items/23682631
Salmon, A. (2010). Couple: Internet gaming addiction led to baby’s death. CNN. Retrieved from: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/01/korea.parents.starved.baby/index.html
Schneider, F., Gruman, J., Coutts, L. (2012). Applied Social Psychology. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Winzelberg, A. (1997). Analysis of an electronic support group for individuals with eating disorders. Computers in Human Behavior, 13, 393-407.
Being someone that identifies with an online community, your post was intriguing to read. I appreciated how you pointed out both the positive and negative aspects of these types of communities. It was interesting to read about the extreme case of child neglect in South Korea due to virtual reality addiction by the parents. Do you believe this case was influenced by the culture in South Korea, or strictly due to the nature of online gaming? As noted in the article, gaming in South Korea is very serious, and it is a multibillion dollar empire (Salmon, 2010). Obviously, this was an extreme case, however, many things must have been contributing to the unfortunate and avoidable loss of such a young life. For example, the type of game they were playing may reveal how addicted they were to it. A recent study found that people that played massively multiplayer online roleplaying games (MMORPG) were more likely to become addicted to video games as opposed to non-MMORPG (Kuss, Louws, & Wiers, 2012).
I agree with the overall message of your post. We must all be aware of our presence on the internet, and above all, protect ourselves from the dangers of being too consumed with virtual reality. A way to counter this is by becoming more aware of how much time we are allotting to our phones, computers, and gaming devices. Maybe even us introverts can muster up enough energy to make it through a lunch date with some friends?
References:
Kuss, D. J., Louws, J., & Wiers, R. W. (2012). Online gaming addiction? motives predict addictive play behavior in massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(9), 48-485. 10.1089/cyber.2012.0034
Salmon, A. (2010, April 02). Couple: Internet gaming addiction led to baby’s death. Retrieved April 02, 2018, from http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/01/korea.parents.starved.baby/index.html