Internet rehab

VietNamNet Bridge – Internet users are persuading each other to seek rehabilitation for technological addictions, particularly Internet-related. But it is a long way from desire to action.

How to give up Internet addiction?

Online entreaties

“I surf the Internet very often. Perhaps I’m addicted to the Internet. I neglect my studies and everything to go online. I tried to give up Internet but I couldn’t. I’m living on the Internet. I surf Internet till 1am in the morning every day. I’m online whenever I have free time during the day. I’m on the net the whole weekend and stay up late at night to write blog, chat, check mail, and do other things. Help me!”

That is the message of an Internet user, nicknamed nhonnho12 on the Yahoo! Ask and Answer forum. The message quickly attracted the sympathy and interest of the online community.

Many people seemed to understand. “I’m online the whole day. I feel anxious if I’m not online for 30 minutes”. “Ancient people say: ‘Man of honour looks unsightly if he doesn’t read book for a day, but my face looks unsightly if I don’t surf web for a day’”. And “I’m online 24/24 like you. Whenever I leave school, I immediately surf the Internet. I live with my computer during the summer holiday. Sometimes I go to bed at 4am”.

Actually, along with the development of the Internet, many people, especially teenagers, are living with the Internet, particularly those in cities.

A survey conducted by a social network investor about Internet users in Vietnam was shocked: Over 70% of young people in the four big cities of Vietnam are on the net more than seven hours a day.

Nhonno12 made a list of solutions to rehabilitate herself from the Internet, including: playing sports, thinking about parents (which can help one become more interested in studying), reading, watching movies, not opening your computer, except for studying.

Many Internet users agreed with nhonnho12, but some complained: “It is as difficult as giving up smoking. People are online everywhere and you can hear current events of the net everywhere so it is hard to give up the Internet”.

Tough methods

Not as dangerous as game addiction, Internet addiction has appeared among a group of young people.

“I think surfing the Internet to serve study, work or to seek information will never make one become an Internet addict, because nobody has to do these tasks day and night. Addiction only happens to those who use the Internet for other purposes. For women, Internet is where they chat, listen to music and go shopping while men gamble, flirt and watch obscene things,” Nguyen Cong Hung, a university lecturer wrote on his blog.

If the US and China have Internet rehab centres, which are often introduced in “strange story” columns, some parents and young people have begun to take tough measures to combat the Internet. Mrs. Mai Van in HCM City used scissors to cut the Internet line in her home though she has to work with foreign partners. She complained: “My son spends all of his time at home on the Internet. He has even not said a word to me for a whole day.”

Nguyen Hai Long, business manager of a multi-national company, was determined to overcoming his Internet addiction by voluntarily going to one of his company’s remote branches which doesn’t have a network connection.

During three weeks of living far from the online world, he practiced writing all documents by hand and working by phone.

“Don’t look intently at the computer to search for far-away information. Go out to talk to your friend and live in real life. Try one day without the Internet, your life will be different.”

This slogan is being transmitted on the Internet to cheer for the simple lifestyle. It is also a warning to anyone who starts to become addicted to the Internet.

“Internet is an effective tool of assistance in life and work at present. But it is also a chain to tie our life to the virtual world. I have to turn off my computer now!” That is another messenger from Yahoo Messenger.

VietNamNet/TT