Newsweek: Is The Web Driving Us Mad?

[piperpibroch]

The first good, peer-reviewed research is emerging, and the picture is much gloomier than the trumpet blasts of Web utopians have allowed. The current incarnation of the Internet—portable, social, accelerated, and all-pervasive—may be making us not just dumber or lonelier but more depressed and anxious, prone to obsessive-compulsive and attention-deficit disorders, even outright psychotic. Our digitized minds can scan like those of drug addicts, and normal people are breaking down in sad and seemingly new ways.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/07/08/is-the-internet-making-us-crazy-what-the-new-research-says.html

webaholics ....

[Lionessa]

1. OP says Newsweek, but link is to Daily Beast, why?

[piperpibroch]

2. That's where I found a link to the article. Not even sure what the Daily Beast site is.

Apparently the author is referencing that site as well:

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/wc32t/i_am_the_writer_of_the_newsweek_cover_story/

[NJCher]

4. Daily Beast and Newsweek have some type of arrangement

Not sure what it is. Anyway, I read the article and it is indeed something to check out. The first scientific studies are now coming in and they are showing that the constant interruptions and interaction with cell phones, email, computers, etc., is physiologically changing the brain.

I won't spoil it but you might be shocked when you find out what our brains now resemble.


Cher

[silverweb]

3. Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]The Newsweek cover is legit. Here's the author inviting discussion of the cover story:

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/wc32t/i_am_the_writer_of_the_newsweek_cover_story/

The Daily Beast and Newsweek are both part of the same corporation: Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/company/about-us.html

[piperpibroch]

5. Thanks. I know it's legit because I bought the hard copy off the newstand and

read it the old fashioned way.

[silverweb]

6. You dinosaur, you!

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]PS - Just noticed your post count. Welcome to DU!

[piperpibroch]

9. Gracias! I am a recovering webaholic who joined only to post this article.

In fact it's time to get back to the real world so will be signing off now. Buhbye!

[silverweb]

11. You come back and see us again!

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Be well.

[piperpibroch]

7. Response and counter perspective from the BBC

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120719-the-madness-of-net-scare-stories

[silverweb]

8. Thank YOU!

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]My first reaction to the OP was "That's bullshit, unless a person has mental issues to begin with."

Now I get to read why I'm right.

[piperpibroch]

10. Right.... so glad you don't resemble that 'webaholic'.

But then of course a 'webaholic' WOULD be in denial...