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Internet Addiction






In a private clinic outside Edinburgh, Leo Edwards, a sixteen-year-old schoolboy, was going through severe symptoms. His body often shook violently and uncontrollably, and at mealtimes he regularly threw cups and plates around the dining room. The symptoms had nothing to do with alcohol, drugs, gambling or food. The boy's problem was “Net obsession” — an over-dependency on the Internet.

An international group of psychologists has recently suggested that anyone who surfs the Internet for long periods is clinically ill and needs medical treatment. According to their report, Internet addicts should be treated in the same way as alcoholics, drug addicts, compulsive gamblers and people with stomach disorders.

Leo Edwards is not an isolated case. Russell Hopkins, aged fifteen, from Gateshead in north-east England, is a typical online addict. Every day after school, and after dinner until three or four in the morning, he will be found in his room surfing the Net or playing computer games. Understandably, his parents are extremely worried. Not only has his school work suffered, but Russell's addiction has also destroyed his social life and his spare time interests. For instance, he has just dropped out of his school's basketball team in order to spend more time at his computer. Instead of spending weekend having a good time out with friends, he is spending it indoors surfing the Internet.

Russell has recently joined an Internet online support group. It may seem ironic that many of the support groups for Internet addicts are online but at least Russell has sought help. Not everyone does. Dr Ann Hoffman, who runs an online support group, says, “People don't realize that being online for more than four hours a day amounts to addiction and that they have a serious problem. I predict that the number of people who join online support groups will have risen dramatically within three years.”

Vocabulary

withdrawal symptom – синдром усунення

withdrawal – відхід; усунення

drug – наркотик

gambling – азартна гра

disorder – розлад, хвороба

addiction – згубна звичка, наркоманія

spare time – вільний час

to predict – передрікати; передбачати

 

Exercise 3. Discuss the following questions according to the article:

1. How did Leo respond to withdrawal from the Internet?

2. What do some psychologists compare Internet addicts to?

3. How is Russell a typical Internet addict?

4. What two things has he stopped doing?

5. What does Dr Hoffman predict?

6. Do you prefer going online to watching TV?

7. What information do you search in the Net for?

*Exercise 4. Complete the following sentences using new words:

1. It can help children with their homework….

2. It has an opportunity of online shopping….

3. A source of education for students….

4. Negative effects on family communication.

5. ……..to find out old friends through social network sites.

6. ……..chat rooms, songs, movies and other entertainment.

7. If you shop online… your credit card number can be copied and used.

8. ….spamming and viruses threat.

9. … can steal important information and other people’s identity.

10. … Internet addiction.

*Exercise 5. Say if the following statements are true or false. Correct the false ones:

1. The Internet doesn’t interfere at all with people’s lives.

2. Most teenagers only have a few hours of computer time.

3. Internet nerds are teenagers who spend most of their time in front of the computer.

4. The English language is not necessary to be successful on the Net.

* Exercise 6. Read and translate the text:






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