Could the trend of computer clicking be the start of a social networking addiction? You’re probably thinking social networking addiction? Is there such a thing? In today’s trend of sites such as Myspace, Facebook and Twitter, the question has been asked, but there have been no straight answers. Recently social networks have become a vital form of communication for the people of Iran.
Most people when they think of addictions they relate them to alcohol or drugs or even gambling. Addictions, though open up endless possibilites, many we’ve never even heard of. Social networking addictions don’t come as too big of a surprise considering the amount of publicity and the growth of such sites. Some people even refer to it as their “second life.”
By now you’re probably wondering what is normal and what isn’t. People that have social networking addictions tend to log on seven or more times a day, they spend 30-40 hours on these sites a week, they alienate friends and family, neglect personal health an
d hygiene and are unable to go near a computer without logging on to a social network.
In 1989, Kevin Mitnick was arrested for various computer hacking offenses. His lawyers defense was that he was addicted to computers and not responsible for his actions. His defense worked in his favor and the case introduced a whole new concept of computer addiction. Twenty years later a new concept is introduced, social networking addiction.
CNNrecently published a story titled, “Five clues that you are addicted to Facebook.” This particular article discussed people who have crossed the line from social networking to social dysfunction. A therapist in North Carolina claims that she has clients with Facebook problems. She says that, “It’s turned into a compulsion- a compulsion to dissociate from your real world and go live in the Facebook world.”
Social networking addictions are difficult to diagnose. This is because there are many reasons that validate the excessive use of such like work purposes, school, marketing, promoting and most importantly the political issues that have stirred up recently in Iran.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been trying to limit internet access and all communication forms in Iran, but social networks such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook have been a great challenge. Iranians have been blogging non-stop, forming anit-government groups on Facebook and uploading graphic pictures and video of current events. The use and number of members from these popular sites have only gained more popularity since the election in Iran.
Recently Twitter has become the craze of social networks, probably because it’s one of the newest to join, but many were skeptical of the site and it wasn’t recieving much respect. Since the issue occured in Iran, people have turned to Twitter for updated information and Iranians have used it as their outlet. Mr. Riazati, a Persian Entrepreneur said in a recent interview, Some people say that Twitter saved Iran, but other think that Iran saved Twitter.” The New York Times reportedly claimed that it is a “Twitter Revolution.”
