An example of an internet related addiction most people, but not all, may have encountered is the online forum space. Forums exist for all types of topics ranging from drug addition, to jet skiing to home theater; there is a space for everything. What is interesting about these forums is that they are an asynchronous way to have a long term conversation with a large number of people. Topics are generally started by one user and many other users will chime in and respond. Generally there are also a few “lead” forums users to direct many topics. This type of conversation network can consume large portions of users time that can eventually lead into Problematic Internet Use. I believe forum use may lead to PIU because of Wallace’s “Operant Conditioning” and “Maintenance of Virtual Spaces” factors. When using a forum, you receive a certain amount of satisfaction when someone responds to your post, or when you read an interesting one. I feel that this prolongs the use of the forum over time. For the virtual space, forums allow a user to create a certain personality and the ability to use this personality in their virtual world or forum. The ability to delve into this world may prove addicting for some.
The concept of the internet forum can also be viewed under Caplans model. People who have low social competency stemming from either depression or especially loneliness may flock to forums because they offer a low pressure and anonymous situation in which to discuss a topic. They may then begin to use forums as their medium of choice for communication resulting in less productivity at work and in other social situations. However, in order for this cycle to be achieved, I think one must be predisposed to depression and loneliness or else a forum may likely just be another regular social outlet. Forums are particularly notable because they offer a very anonymous situation in which to intimately discuss topics which may be hard to talk about (drugs, etc.) in another setting. Since forums are also asynchronous, they allow members to create more thoughtful and detailed responses than in synchronous chat. This may offer a more emotional and gripping response to forums.
1 comment:
Brendan,
I really enjoyed reading your post because I know people who are pretty much addicted to certain forums - checking for responses several times a day, posting new stuff constantly, and relating it back to everything. I agree with everything you said about how Caplan's model applies to it, but do you think forums are more addicitng because of individual differences or because of the internet affordances? While I think that it takes a certain kind of person to get completely addicted to forums, I think most forum addictions are largely due to the properties of the space. It is asynchronous, you are anonymous, it provides you with a network of people who share common interests, and it is always available. I think this last feature is especially detrimental because if someone is bored or can't sleep, they can spend hours and hours going through the forum, posting new comments, looking at other peoples' comments, checking out old discussions, etc. I think that this feature is forums is probably the one that makes them most addicting. Overall, great post - really interesting!
-Emily
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