College students struggle to go without media for 24 hours →
Before you read the article, let me say straight out that I believe this study and its conclusions were either very poorly done or very poorly framed. I think that it’s completely obvious that if you take away “media” from normal college students and said students don’t have any non-media related activities to fall back on, then of course they are going to suffer “withdrawal” symptoms… because they are BORED TO DEATH.
It’s critical to realize that our “addiction” to digital media is not because of chemical or hormonal attachment, but because our entertainment and communication needs are (perhaps too easily) fulfilled by these electronic devices.
Now, having said that, I do think there is something of a potentially dangerous “addictive” quality of our digital lifestyles… something to do with never getting out and seeing the people you talk to online with, or not exercising because you can’t be bothered to move your ass from your chair.
I’m just not sure this study is getting at that. >_>
