The Internet has become an integral part of our daily life in this brave new world of information and communication technology. However, the tech-savvy online network is not always beneficial to all users. One ill effect of cyberspace is addiction that can no longer be overlooked. Like it or not, the Internet is often likened to ``electronic narcotics'' because of its serious addictive nature.
In this regard, the Lee Myung-bak administration announced anti-addiction measures Monday, including free software programs to limit users' access time to online networks. The programs will consist of a consensual shut-down program and a ``fatigue system'' designed to make users become bored as time goes by. We hope that these programs will work effectively to prevent netizens from being addicted to the virtual reality. What's noteworthy is a government plan to provide educational programs and counseling service to 10 million people, including schoolchildren, over the next three years.
These measures are in response to a series of tragic incidents arising from Internet addiction which has already become a social problem but with little progress in tackling it. Especially, online game addiction has reached a critical point where some gamers commit murder and other grave crimes. The nation was shocked by the arrest of an addicted couple for neglecting their baby girl and letting her starve to death. The jobless couple used to spend as many as 12 hours each day playing cyber games at Internet cafes, while feeding their three-month-old baby once or twice a day. Instead of caring for their own baby, they were too preoccupied with raising a virtual girl character, ``Anima,'' in a popular role-playing game ``Prius Online.'' What a tragedy it was!
More shocking was that a man in his 20s killed his mother in a fit of anger because she scolded him for doing nothing but playing Internet games. A middle school girl was found to have engaged in prostitution to make money for online games. A 32-year-old man died at an Internet cafe last month after playing computer games for five days in a row with few breaks and meals. These cases show how serious consequences Internet addition brings to Korea ― one of the most wired countries in the world.
No doubt Internet games are not worth risking human lives. If addicted, however, users may lose their control and become virtual slaves. Addicts usually become isolated and have disillusioned. They could develop symptoms of depression and other mental problems. Some studies discovered that the brain activities of Internet addicts are similar to those of drug addicts.
Currently, the number of Intent addicts is estimated at 2 million in Korea, accounting for 8.8 percent of online users. Over 14 percent of youngsters aged between nine and 19 suffer from the addiction problem, according to a 2008 survey by the National Information Society Agency. About 2.3 percent of them are classified as serious addicts with greater risks. Without solving this issue, the nation cannot keep its fame as an Internet and IT powerhouse. All members of our society should join efforts to win the war against Internet addiction.