Internet addiction the focus of ‘Web Junkie’ documentary

Internet addiction blurs real life with internet life. It is a growing problem we must all face as the internet becomes ingrained in our every day existence. 

I see smart phone addiction as being number two, right behind internet addiction, but seems to be gaining ground. In fact, this has already been assigned a clinical description - Nomophobia: fear of being without your smartphone - and affects 40% of the population.

With every passing day, technology is overtaking our daily lives. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity,career or economic status, you're probably packing a smartphone right now. In fact, 56 percent of all Americans own one. The phone, computer, tablet and other high tech devices have become not just an object, but for many a best friend.

Many suffer from anxiety if they lose their phone, even if only for a few minutes. We rely on it to do everything from saying "I love you" to breaking up, from checking bank balances to investing, from sharing photos of the grandchild to sexting. We can carry out a plethora of daily tasks, right from the palm of our hand.

Web Junkie

Compulsive Internet use has been categorized as a mental health issue in many countries, including the United States, but China was among the first to label “Internet addiction” a clinical disorder.

Printed in the August 7th, New York Post -

Brief and timely, this documentary directed by Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia is also frustrating. The setting is a division of a Beijing military hospital, where teenage boys are being treated for Internet addiction — more specifically, addiction to “World of Warcraft” and other games like it.

Anybody who’s had to peel a child’s hands off a keyboard can sympathize with these parents wailing that their game-obsessed son isn’t eating or sleeping for days — one teen even admits to wearing a diaper. But it’s soon obvious that locking boys in a hideous institution to stare at bare walls is unlikely to persuade them of the joys of real life. “It’s already not working,” remarks one kid.

The film is fascinating and often darkly funny, but it’s hard not to wish for some actual analysis to flesh out the many scenes of grim people in gray rehab.

Find the trailer here. The movie web site is here.

An NYTimes article can be found here. This worth reviewing.

This was posted in the news on August 11, 2014

It's just one incredible story after another.
https://games.yahoo.com/news/world-warcraft-addiction-lands-couple-jail-kids-found-200018703.html