By Jimmy Mesta

There is a new breed of drug hitting the streets.

This new drug does not come in a capsule and cannot be contained in a glass bottle.  This drug is something more complex; it consists of one part technology, one part hardware and three parts human interaction.  When combined in just the right proportions, the mixture forms what we humans like to call The Internet.

This technological wonder drug goes by a number of names such as the “Net” or the “World Wide Web.”  It can’t get you high or even give you a buzz, but the excessive use of the Internet can cause intense side effects, such as a diminished social life, broken relationships, carpel tunnel syndrome, and even deadly blood clots.  Living a desk-bound lifestyle of MySpace surfing, AIM chatting and YouTube watching can have a profound effect on a person’s mental and physical state, just like many drugs found on the streets.

Media addiction is not a new notion.  The concept of media addiction dates back to the early days of TV and video games.  The Internet has caused a mass revolution in human interaction.  The days of sending letters, now called “snail mail,” and reading from paperback books are rapidly coming to a close.  With the introduction of portable devices like the iPhone and Blackberry, it is possible for someone to be constantly connected to a network of millions of computers.  E-mails appear instantly, shopping can be done with the click of a mouse, and people can have a relationship without ever meeting one another face-to-face.

While the Internet has made many important and fascinating contributions to the information age, care must still be taken when experimenting with this new drug.  As David Smith of The Guardian, wrote: “A primary case study is South Korea, which has the greatest use of broadband in the world.  Block points out that 10 people died from blood clots from remaining seated for long periods in internet cafés.  [...]  The government estimates that around 210,000 South Korean children are [addicted] and in need of treatment.”  The notion that people may be surfing the web until death is frightening.

While writing this article, I checked Facebook 2 times, responded to over 5 emails, and talked to 4 friends.  This is a classic example of multitasking, and it is often how people operate while using a computer to do work.  The purpose of this article is not to suggest the elimination of the Internet; in today’s society, it is clear that we truly cannot operate without its presence.

In summary, it is important to have a life outside of your connected world.  Go for a walk outside, and talk to people face-to-face – it can do wonders for your social life.  The Internet can bring prosperity, productivity, knowledge, and happiness, but like anything else, it needs to be used in moderation.  Life is too short to spend in front of a screen watching 1’s and 0’s fly by.  To that end, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt:

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”