Internet addiction begets new illness

Ever wondered what would happen if you were denied access to the Internet for one long period of time? With increasing dependence on the Net, it has become almost difficult to get through a day without logging on. Which is why a new word, ‘discomgoogolation’  has been coined to describe this syndrome. In other words, when you grow frustrated, unable to go online, you suffer from discomgoogolation!

Sujay Nair, the editor of Digit magazine, says, “The term is gaining popularity among netizens, as almost everyone suffers from it. The new generation is constantly logged in. Even shy people who usually don’t interact with anyone, feel more confident to chat with people on the Net.”

In fact, IIT Bombay had barred Internet for a few months as students were foregoing social activities and even hesitated to get out of their rooms. “Two years ago, if anyone had a problem, they would speak to friends. With the Internet, people hardly get out of their homes. With the convenience of email and chat, people don’t see the necessity to meet in person,” Sujay remarks.

The word ‘discomgoogolation’ is an amalgam of Google (the search engine) and ‘discombobulate’, which means to confuse or frustrate. Says an IT professional from the city Lavanya K, “I am not aware of the term, but if it’s used to describe the frustration when one does not get access to the Net, even I suffer from it. I even prefer chatting with colleagues or relatives, them on the sites rather than personally.”

A recent survey held by YouGov, a research institute in England, 44 per cent of regular Net users faced stress and anxiety when they couldn’t access the Net for a long time and 76 per cent of them said that they could not live without it. Many people also said they would miss the Net more than their friends. Says P. Sandhya Rani, a psychologist from Care Counselling, “Over the past few years, several parents have complained their child hardly interacts with them, and is always in front of the PC. Even at a family gatherings, the kids are restless as they can’t access the Net. One cannot blame the Internet for it as even parents are equally responsible.”

Elaborating on the same, she says, “Most students turn to the Internet for all emotional needs as they are unable to speak to their parents. Be it relatives or friends, they should take an effort to meet regularly and attend social events. Though these people may be very confident on the Internet while chatting with others, at a social event it would be very difficult for them. Parents should take a break from their work and spend quality time with their children”.