Computer Addiction

EFFECTS OF COMPUTER ADDICTION Technology has developed so much that it is almost crucial to have electronic devices particularly the personal computers at home, school, internet café, etc. Teenagers have gotten so used to have technology around them. However, while having these computers that make life easier, comfortable, and handy at most of the times, it could also have negative effects on their lives particularly in their studies when used too much. When these computers are used too much due to the addiction felt by the students in computer, without their knowledge, they have started to experience the bad effects of computer addiction. The effects were escapism to reality, dishonesty, and financial problems. With these effects they have experienced, they have been also affected academically by their poor performance at class. Escapism is defined as something such as fantasy or entertainment that makes it possible to forget about the ordinary or unpleasant realities of life for a while (Encarta, 2009). Students were addicted to internet surfing day and night, most of them applied what they have perceived or seen in the computer to their studies. Based upon on the survey conducted of my group, 15 out of 16 first year University of Baguio student agreed upon that they have been applied to their studies what they perceived in computer. They tend to imitate wrong acts they have seen in the computer even if they knew that it not all they have perceived in front of the monitor is good for them. Dishonesty or lying is one of the results of computer addiction to the students (Self-Help: Computer Addiction, 2008). Students tend to lie to their professors, parents, etc. so that they may be able to continue their addiction to computer. In the survey administered by the researchers at University of Baguio to the first year student, five out of 16 students confessed that they have lied to their professors, parents, etc. that they have skipped their classes just to