In the online realm, we can always start over, however in real life, we only have one chance of living. The rapid advancement of technology opens up new ways for different online activities to be more accessible to people. With the emergence of the latest media and games, it is not surprising that some users develop an internet addiction. Internet addiction is when someone excessively uses the internet to consume different types of media. It is an unhealthy behavior that disrupts one’s personal life. In my opinion, problematic internet use can lead to self-negligence and psychological distress because it impairs self-control, lessens social interaction, and paves way for self-destructive behavior.

According to Millar and Quaglio (2020), internet addiction causes victims to neglect other areas of life and focus solely on consuming media. This is dangerous because it impairs their control leading to addiction. They also mentioned that computer addiction causes a strain on social relationships because a user’s excessive internet use might lead them to act in ways that sabotage the relationship. This is harmful because relationships are a big factor in human well-being. Additionally, a computer addict may start to neglect daily habits essential for living, such as eating, sleeping, cleaning, and socializing. Self-destructive behavior due to problematic internet use may cause physical and mental harm to one’s body.

If the problem is left untreated, it can lead to psychological problems such as distress, anger, loss of control, social isolation, withdrawal, and relationship conflicts (Miller & Quaglio, 2020). Excessive internet use is often linked to several mental health problems because individuals start to be reliant on online activities for the satisfaction of their needs, instead of meeting their actual real-life necessities. A study done by Wong, Yuen, and Li (2014), shows that sleep problems and stress are associated with too much internet exposure. They also noted that sleep disturbances may be the first step in developing symptoms of depression. Some additional psychological issues that are caused by computer addiction are internet gaming disorder, sexual dysfunction, gambling disorder, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and impulse control problems. Since using the internet can satisfy temporary needs, those who feel distressed often use media as a way of escapism since online activities provide an alternative way to lessen stress. The only problem with this method is if it is excessively done and the individual relies on it too much. 

Internet addiction can also harm the following under cognitive development: memory skills, attention span, analytical thinking, language acquisition, reading, and learning. Because of this, one may experience academic, relational, financial, and occupational difficulties in daily life. A few might argue that the internet may be some peoples’ only source of entertainment and escape from the stress of daily life, however, I am convinced that excessive use may cause more harm than good.

Problematic internet use can lead to ignorance of one's basic needs, strained relationships, self-destructive behavior, and mental health problems. For me, I find it hard to stop scrolling through Tik Tok sometimes, and because of this, I understand why some people get addicted to online activities. I believe that with the right guidance, self-action, awareness, and social interaction, users who suffer from internet addiction will eventually be treated. We have one chance at life, so let us live it fulfillingly. 

"Efforts guarantee results" is a statement often shared in the moments we doubt our ambitions and capability to achieve them; it expresses the concept that through working, you will eventually reach your goal. In some instances, this is true, like in the context of employees who stay late at their job to get a promotion and obtain a better living. Working long hours for a single goal, on the other hand, is neither healthy nor justifiable.

For instance, in online gaming communities, users often set aside significant portions of their day to level up and attain better scores. The sense of accomplishment that these games give them compels them to keep coming back for more. Video games often employ systems that entail the need for users to regularly play to attain in-game achievements; this becomes the only source of their validation and happiness, affecting how they interact with those around them.

Some gamers religiously set aside time to make progress in their game and to master the necessary skills that allow them to become better players. Oftentimes, video  game players "grind" and perform a series of repetitive tasks to accomplish and advance levels in order to earn certain in-game rewards (What is Grinding?, n.d.). Other games require players to make frequent contact with the platform and complete required tasks in order to obtain certain titles. Even if a game becomes relatively uneventful and boring to the user, the promise of rewards reels them in to continue the "grind" (De, 2021). With this, online gaming eventually becomes habitual. In the fields of pathology and psychology, internet gaming disorder is now a recognized illness that is classified in the Addendum to the DSM-5 (Mordeno et al., 2022).

There is an argument that video games are merely platforms that encourage their users to develop various essential real-life skills, such as focus, spatial awareness, and critical thinking. However, as with any form of hobby, it must be regulated and never consumed in excess. A higher amount of time spent playing video games increases the risk of developing an addiction (Esposito et al., 2020). Furthermore, video games may be an outlet to escape a poor parental or familial relationship, making the media a tool for escapism; poor relationships between avid users and their family increase susceptibility to developing a gaming disorder. 

Indeed, it can also be asserted that some video games are simply created and designed for the users’ enjoyment and as a way to pass time; they have the ability to make them more relaxed and happy (Gregory, 2020). Even so, total reliance on computers to uplift one’s mood sets a dangerous precedent: no one must rely on a single thing for their happiness.

While gaming is an activity considered a hobby by most people, others spend unhealthy amounts of time on in-game and intangible achievements. This brings about a disconnection with their social life, and increases the risk of developing a gaming disorder. While it is not necessarily a bad thing to look forward to the sense of accomplishment that video games impart, we must realize that there are more crucial aspects of our lives that we must prioritize. Users of video games must weigh out whether computers are affecting how they cope with reality. At the end of the day, they are merely meant to entertain us. In the end, it is just a game.

We all know that many people get addicted to games, and I’m no exception to it. It may be because it's trendy in the modern world today or it could also be because of the game itself that explains why we get addicted to these types of things. Some of us may even tend to forget about our basic needs, such as eating, taking a bath, or even forgetting about our surroundings as well. This leads to many teenagers' parents being concerned about their health and well-being.

It’s been said in a Common Sense Media study that teens spend around 2 hours gaming daily. In my opinion, I would agree with this as sometimes I would play even more than 2 hours a day. A 2021 study in the journal, Addictive Behaviors found that among 3,000 students more than 19% of males and 7.8% of females tend to play video games. So how did video games become addictive for many teenagers?

First, I believe that many people may be addicted to video games because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing most of us to be isolated in our own homes. This leads teenagers to be bored as they can't go outside yet and many of them needed something to do. Fortunately for them, there were video games. 

Due to this, video games have been trending during the pandemic and their popularity has been rising ever since. You may have heard of Valorant, Apex Legends, or even Genshin Impact during these times. These are just some of the most played games during the pandemic, which just goes to show that these games have benefited during this time. 

According to Matthew Barr and Alicia Copeland-Stewart, the time that's spent playing video games has increased by 71%, while 58% of their respondents stated that there has been an impact on their well-being, with the majority of those being positive. I think that video games do have benefits and can bring people joy and these can help people during tough times as an outlet, but sometimes games can have negative effects as well. 

There are several reasons why video games are addictive. If it's an MMORPG or a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, then it's because there is a lot to do as it doesn't have an end to it. If it's a competitive game like Valorant or League of Legends, then it's because people want to get better as they train their in-game skills to get a higher level or rank. 

Regardless of the reason, it's safe to say that if you get too addicted, you may start to neglect your duties in the real world or even your health for that matter. In my personal experience, I even ignored some of my schoolwork just to play, but I did my best to balance games and my duties. To become addicted means that you have no control over it anymore, so why not try to assess yourself first and make sure that games don't become more of a burden to your life and instead, make it something that you enjoy. Don't just play for the sake of an escape from the real world, but rather play for the sake of just having fun.