Caught in the Web

 An article in the Washington Post told the following story: A few months ago, it wasn’t unusual for 47-year-old Carla Toebe to spend 15 hours per day online. She’d wake up early, turn on her laptop and chat on Internet dating sites and instant-messaging programs — leaving her bed for only brief intervals. Her household bills piled up, along with the dishes and dirty laundry, but it took near-constant complaints from her four daughters before she realized she had a problem. “I was starting to feel like my whole world was falling apart — kind of slipping into a depression,” said the Richland, Wash., resident. “I knew that if I didn’t get off of the dating sites, I would just keep going,” detaching herself further from the outside world. Toebe’s conclusion: She felt like she was “addicted” to the Internet.* A recent study noted that Internet users spend an average of 3 ½ hours a day online, and some much more. Growing numbers of people are addicted to online games, gambling sites, dating sites, chatrooms, instant messaging, email, and other online activities. Are you addicted to the Internet? Do you know someone who is? In a well-organized essay, answer the following questions: Is internet addiction a growing social problem? If so, what are the main causes of the problem and what can be done about it? If not, why not?