Internet Addiction
Good Fit
- Families worried that a child or partner is getting too absorbed in games, social networks or chat
- Readers who want to understand when their own internet time becomes «too much» and what counts as a problem
- Psychologists, teachers and social workers who meet addiction problems
Not a Fit
- Readers who want a clinical diagnosis, a research overview or new digital trends (TikTok, short videos): the book mostly belongs to the era of games and chat
- Anyone planning to treat serious addiction with a book alone: the author repeatedly writes that it does not replace therapy
- Parents who want a ready-made ban-and-control programme: the author finds a general ban as dangerous as unlimited permission
The chapter begins by saying that several terms (internet addiction, computer-game addiction, role-play addiction, chat addiction, pathological internet use) mean the same thing: loss of control over computer use. The author, Holger Feindel, answers the question «how much is too much?» with four examples: Thorsten (from year 11 playing more than 15 hours a day), the system administrator Michael (40 hours a week for work but weekends with his family), Thomas (more than 30 hours a week, but his job, sport and friends are in place) and Frank (plays little but does not notice his children crying, and his wife leaves him). The result: it cannot be measured by hours alone; the problem begins when serious harm, neglect of other areas of life and suffering appear. Among those seeking treatment the average is 60–70 hours a week.
In the section «Physical consequences» Manuel (70 kg to 130 kg in three years, back pain, oedema, high blood pressure), Richard (at least ten hours a day on a mobile phone, osteoarthritis of the thumb joint) and Fabian (not having brushed his teeth for more than two years) are described. The author lists: back and head pain, dry eyes, wrist inflammation, weight changes, lack of sleep, a disturbed day-night rhythm. An eye doctor's remark: players hardly blink at all.
In the section «Social consequences» Ferdinand (first computer at 13, calling himself addicted at 21, playing 14–15 hours a day, then homeless) and Clara (with 141 «friends» on a social network but no one congratulates her on her real birthday) are presented. The author concludes: addiction begins with the weakening of real relationships and continues with loneliness, failure at work and in education, family conflict, the partner's leaving and financial problems. The section «Psychological consequences» shows lack of self-confidence, anxiety disorders, depression and «failure to mature».
The end of the chapter is the question of separating reality from virtuality. To the media claim that «victims cannot tell reality from virtuality» the author replies with clinical observation: David stands at the corner of shelf blocks in the supermarket like a «sniper» and glances quickly to the other side; Tanja, though feeling the urge to «save/load», knows clearly which world she is in. The author concludes that such confusion is rare; in patients mainly behaviour patterns (staying on alert) pass from the game to real life. The chapter's style is short, personal and non-judgmental; its weakness is that it rests only on the experience of a German clinic.
- The chapters are built from short clinical stories and consequences in list form
- The tone does not judge: the author does not blame addicts and families but calls for understanding the causes
- At the end of each section the consequences are given in a short list, which allows the reader to scan quickly
- Personal examples prevail over statistics
On using technology deliberately and simplifying digital life
A book written from a harder line against screen addiction
On how the internet affects attention and thinking
The author describes the «vicious circle» thus: as the shortcomings in the real world (unopened post, broken relationships) grow, a person's self-worth and faith in solving problems fall; the virtual world, with more success and a social network, becomes more attractive. As a result the centre of life shifts to another world. The author calls this a «downward spiral» and shows that it feeds depression both as cause and as consequence.
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