Hello, my name is Maddie Walters, and I am an Internet Addict

Maddie Walters

Staff Writer

It is well known fact that kids our age will forever be remembered by their adaptation and embracement of the huge advancements in technology that have taken place over the course of our short lives.

From the Internet, to the cell phone, to the iPod, technology has shaped the way we think about things. And while these advancements have not only created new ways to communicate, such as texting and blogging, they have taken away from the past times that we used to enjoy before inventions such as Facebook.

For me, the distractions of the Internet have hindered my life in ways they were never intended to. Whenever I do homework on the computer, there is always an urge to check my Facebook, Flickr page, or dashboard of Tumblr. And the addition of Netflix has made my home life even more pathetic as I now watch myself happily spend an extra hour on the computer doing nothing besides watching movies or TV shows.

And this fact bothers me. I grew up living on the outskirts of Tyler, spending a majority of my time outdoors being a kid and getting involved in all sorts of tomfoolery. Now, I watch my wasted teenage self becoming more and more attached to a metal box for all of my entertainment.

Perhaps the most devastating part of this growing dependency has been the reduction in the number of hours I spend reading. As the hours on the computer accumulate, the precious time I used to spend curled up on the couch with a good paperback have decreased significantly. As an advocate for literature and the expansion of its popularity, I feel like a hypocrite for becoming someone I never thought I would be.

With this being said, I’ve decided I need to make a change in my life. While I could quit the computer cold turkey, studies have shown that the results are typically better when an addict weans themselves off of their addiction. So I’ve made it my solemn duty to starting reading before bed like I used to.

This addiction to the internet is becoming more and more common, and if you are like me and would like to make a change click here or here to discover ways to avoid and break the addiction.