Wallace (2015). The internet as a time sink. - Article summary

The boundary theory explores the way people manage the boundaries for work life and home life. These boundaries tend to be very permeable at the moment, due to permanent internet access. The mobile phone enables constant connectedness to one’s work role (e.g. e-mail, texting). The smartphone blurs boundaries between work time and non-work time. This can have negative effects on family life.

There are different strategies one can take when it comes to mobile devices and work:

1. Segmenters
   These people do not use a mobile device for work outside of work.
2. Integrators
   These people use a mobile device for work outside of work, initially experiencing negative effects, but have learned to use it properly to avoid negative effects at home.
3. Failed segmenters
   These people use a mobile device for work outside of work and are unable to resist the pressure to be continuously available. This leads to strong negative family effects.

It appears as if people can become addicted to the internet. However, it matters less how much time people spend on the internet but mostly what they do with their time on the internet. The prevalence of internet addiction is debated although it seems to be higher in China and other East Asian countries, particularly in adolescent boys. 

There are several aspects of the internet that are overused most often and they often mimic problem areas of offline behaviour (e.g. gambling):

1. Online games
   People are drawn to online games because of the possibility of achievement and the social aspect through team play.
2. Social networks
   People often use social networks (e.g. Facebook, texting). Women tend to use social networks as a mean of to communicate with members of their own peer group while men use social networks as a mean to compensate for fewer face-to-face interactions. Extroverts tend to use social networking sites to enhance existing relationships and introverts tend to use social networking sites to compensate for fewer real-life friendships.
3. Online auctions
   People are often drawn to online auctions (e.g. eBay) and this can lead to compulsive behaviour. People who are most compulsive about online auction bidding also had distorted perceptions about the auction site and their own behaviour (e.g. justifying own behaviour).

Fear of missing out (FOMO) refers to an anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website. FOMO is often related to frequent (excessive) social network use. Younger people, especially young males, are more anxiety prone and more susceptible to FOMO.

Low self-esteem (1), depression (2), hostility (3) and emotional instability (4) are important factors for the development of problematic internet behaviour. Problematic internet use also lead to changes in the brain. Treatment for problematic internet use ranges from draconic camps to cognitive behavioural therapy and ‘internet detoxication’.

One common symptom of problematic internet use is the lack of knowledge about how long one is really spending online or denial about the time spent. Drug treatment to reduce cravings can also be used.

It appears as if problematic internet behaviour (e.g. addiction) is a temporary condition that mostly occurs for people who just started using the internet. Some people who are prone to excess may have great difficulty controlling overuse of one or more of the internet’s most compelling areas, especially if they show compulsive behaviour in other realms.