How are drugs and the Internet similar?

Similarities Between Internet Addiction and Substance Addiction. Like the way drug use restructures the reward system in the brain, compulsive internet use causes changes in brain functioning. Studies on internet addiction and the brain mirror those on drug effects on the brain.

How addictive is the Internet?

Depending on whom you ask, Internet addiction rates range from 1\% to 9\% of the population, according to a 2012 study published in Current Review of Psychiatry. As smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets become progressively more embedded in our daily lives, those numbers are likely to increase.

Why is social media considered a drug?

Due to the effect that it has on the brain, social media is addictive both physically and psychologically. According to a new study by Harvard University, self-disclosure on social networking sites lights up the same part of the brain that also ignites when taking an addictive substance.

Are humans addicted to technology?

The more we use technology, the more neurological changes take place in the brain. Not being connected to technology may make us feel as though we’re missing out on pertinent information. But research shows that excessively using the internet and internet-enabled devices can lead to an addiction to technology.

Is Internet addiction the same as drug addiction?

Behavioral addiction such as internet addiction is similar to drug addiction except that in the former, the individual is not addicted to a substance but the behavior or the feeling brought about by the relevant action. In addition, the physical signs of drug addiction, are absent in behavioral addiction.

How does internet addiction affect the brain?

Internet addiction alters the volume of the brain. The brain changes are similar to those produced by alcohol and cocaine addiction. IAD shrinks the brain’s gray and white matter fibers which results in changes to emotional processing and brain functioning.

What would the world be like without internet?

Without the web, we’d be sleeping better, socialising more and we would be more active. The connectivity it gives us is also exploited by those who wish us harm: cybercrime, cyberterrorism and cyberbullying would all disappear in a webless world.

Why are teens addicted to social media?

Amongst the most widely-recognised causes of addiction to social media are low self-esteem, personal dissatisfaction, depression and hyperactivity, and even lack of affection, a deficiency that adolescents frequently try to replace with the famous likes.

Can social media be compared to drugs?

New Study Suggests Excessive Social Media Use Is Comparable To Drug Addiction.

How does social media affect the teenage brain?

Teenagers are often afraid of what others may think about what they post and don’t want to be judged in a negative light. In this manner, increased social media often contributes to increased feelings of heightened anxiety and social stress.

Is technology a drug?

Some experts say technologies such as social media and video games are like drugs. Others disagree. This debate is really about whether technologies are addictive. But the defining property of a psychoactive drug is not “addictiveness”, but the ability to change a user’s mental and emotional state.

How is the Internet affecting our brains?

Recent research suggests that excess use of the internet over prolonged periods of time may negatively affect some cognitive functions, particularly attention and short-term memory. “excess” use of the internet, as this is a new area in research that remains under-investigated.