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Surf the Internet, but don’t drown in it! |
According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, "surveys fielded in 2006 show that Internet penetration among adults in the U.S. has hit an all-time high."
We are bombarded with all the information the Internet provides. Whether it be a healthcare answer or the latest celebrity gossip, we use the Internet to gain access to almost everything. As a law student, if you sit in class all day with a computer that has access to Wi-Fi, you may be susceptible to the lure of the Internet.
Although your law classes are and should be your main concern, don't fool yourself into thinking you're immune to the effects of the Internet. There are the few who can avoid its call, but most give in to the temptation it presents.
I'm sure you've sneaked in a Facebook click or MySpace peek at least once or twice — if not more. Whether it be before class or after, the Internet is a powerful resource. But it has become a valuable source of entertainment as well, and it has many of us questioning its impact: have we taken this pastime to extreme levels?
In the New York Times, an article featured a "boot camp" for Internet addicts in South Korea whose addictions have led them to make drastic changes. The "Jump Up Internet Rescue School" even has kids going through "military-style obstacle courses," according to the article. The Times reports that the government took it upon itself to address the Internet addiction issue firsthand by building "a network of 140 Internet-addiction counseling centers, in addition to treatment programs at almost 100 hospitals and, most recently, the Internet Rescue camp."
Officials in South Korea say "that obsessive computer use has become a growing problem in many countries." A lot of people are starting to agree. Have we become consumed by the Net? With growing content on the world wide web, it's easy to get caught up in the allure of it all.
With universities and other public institutions providing Internet access, it's hard not to be lured by the distractions of the Internet. Sure, your main priority is finishing your law research, but is the tempting diversion of a social network site on your mind from time to time? It's hard to let go of those desirable breaks from studying, but there are times when those breaks turn into hours of endless surfing — keeping you away from your studies unintentionally.
So how do we avoid becoming an "Internet-addicted" generation? Boot camp, anyone? Has Internet use really gotten that bad? Maybe not to that extreme, but it is a problem that thus far has no concrete solution. For now, try to focus as much as you can on your studies, but be careful not to get carried away and derailed from your law focus.
After all, I'd rather take a few daily breaks from the Internet than have to go through an obstacle course any day!
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