Image from my post on 4/17/11

I noticed the image posted to my blog on 4/17/11 is not showing up here is another link for it, hopefully it works..

http://www.magdawalczak.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/internet-addiction.jpg

Anonymous

http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12611/1/Reasons-Behind-Internet-Addiction.html


Initially I set out to discover some of the main reasons for Internet addiction, and despite the title of this article it does not really provide any.  Instead, it provides on reason as to why Internet addictions is so COMMON.


Is it true that the only thing separating the realms of online and offline, is the same reason people develop an Internet addiction? According to the above article the idea of being anonymous is what makes Internet addiction so popular, and it is also the one factor that distinguishes between online and offline communities. Do you agree with this article's claims, could the idea of being anonymous really hold that much control/power?

What an Internet Addict Meeting Might Look Like...

I found this cartoon of what an Internet Addiction Anonymous meeting might look like, I thought it was pretty unique and humorous. What do you guys think about this illustration?

Addiction is Addiction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrlD3yh8bDE

This news clip with Katie Couric gives insight into why Internet addiction is the same as any other addiction, just as we briefly discussed in class.  I too strongly believe there is no difference between Internet addiction and any other addiction, it is equally as threatening as a drug or alcohol addiction could be.  If anything, Internet addiction might be more dangerous because the Internet is so easily accessible, especially with the popularity of smart phones.  No one is safe from Internet Addiction, kids are just as susceptible as adults.  Do you agree that Internet addiction is the same as any other addiction? Or do you believe there is a distinct difference? Are there any addictions you can think of that are less harmful than others?

Invasion of Privacy

This image says a lot about Internet privacy today.  To me it expresses the idea that you open yourself up to everyone on the Internet, and anyone can take your "stuff" (identity, personal info, etc.)  What do you guys think of when you see this image?

Monitoring Internet Traffic

After thinking more about the case of the public school that was caught watching students on their webcams, I started to consider the right universities have to monitor all traffic on their Internet connection.  This is a topic that affects us, since we have all at some point used Lehigh's Internet, whether it be in your dorm, library, classroom, etc.  If you are connected to a universities' Internet or using their computers, you better believe they are watching every move you make.  Anything you say, buy, websites you visit, downloads, and so on, is tracked and can be used against you at any given time.  Personally, I know several people who have been caught illegally downloading music by Lehigh University and have been contacted via email, advising them to stop all activity related or legal action would be taken.  Clearly, monitoring activity on the Internet is an area that Lehigh takes seriously, and holds no margin for error.  Once caught do something inappropriate on the Internet by a university once, it is likely that you will be on their radar for a while. Some people believe that universities taking action and monitoring Internet traffic is an invasion of privacy, but the fact of the matter is they have every right to do so in accordance with the Patriot Act.  The bottom line is, if you do not want to the university keeping track of your online activity, then do not use their Internet.

How do you feel about your personal online conversations, maybe purchases you make online, or any of your online actions not being private?

Someone's Watching You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBnud2lPIuk

YOU MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO!!

This is so not okay.  A public school remotely turned on the webcam of a school issued laptop and watched a boy in the privacy of his on home.  The school admitted to turning on various students' webcams  40 times, and they claim it was for security reasons.  What security reasons would that be when students are at home?  Once students leave school property, I do not think they have the right to be monitoring/watching students activity in their home; regardless, if it is via a school issued laptop.  This story reminds me of an episode of Criminal Minds, called Revelations, where a serial killer watched his victims on the Internet via their webcams.  In order to gain access to the victims' computers he would call  them and pretend to be an IT guy.  Not only would he get the necessary codes to hack into the peoples computers, but he would also get all their personal information (i.e. home address).  The serial killer used the webcams to watch the victims, and plan accordingly as to when the best time to show up at their home and kill them was.  He watched them sleep, change, even caught them inappropriate acts (which is how he justified killing some of them).  After seeing that episode I started to keep a post it over my webcam because now I'm paranoid that someone could be watching me, and that is just an extremely unsettling and creepy thought.