Good Example Of Counter Argument Essay

In recent years, the excessive usage of the World Wide Web has been known to lead to a number of health disorders, first of all, to so called the Internet addiction. It appears in the unwillingness to give up the habit of spending much time surfing the Internet. According to Walton A.G (2012), “research has shown that people with the Internet addiction have demonstrable changes in their brains – mostly in the brain areas that control attention, executive control, and emotion processing” Walton A. G (2012). That is why dependence on the Internet is included to the list of the mental problems which an addict can deal with.
Moreover, memory lapses can be also distinguished among the mental disorders that can be caused by the Internet. There have already been conducted some researches among which is the Rettner’s (2010) study whose results showed that a frequent use of the Internet and all sorts of "gadgets" to store information affects particularly the process of storing information and directly results in the absentmindness and partial loss of the memory. The following example can be a confirmation of the mentioned above outcome of the excessive usage of the Internet.
The following example can be a confirmation that the excessive usage of the Internet results in the deterioration of the general health and particularly mental disorder. This topic hasn’t been acute till my close friend experienced the mentioned above negative consequences. Working as a designer of the websites, he has to spend much time in front of the computer practically six days per week. After a few months of living in such a pace and digesting every day a steady stream of information, my friend became forgetful that has never been occurred earlier. The main reason that caused such disorders is undoubtedly the Internet. In fact, there is no need to deny all of the advantages the Internet has, nevertheless people are not capable to realize the seriousness of the problems they may face and should never forget about the consequences to which the unlimited use of the Internet can lead.
Other consequences connected with the excessive Internet usage can be regarded as not so well-known comparing to the Internet addiction, but it is these disorders that can lead to serious mental health deterioration if neglected or not taken seriously. According to researches conducted by the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), people who use computers intensively can develop sleeping problems; if they continue using them frequently they can increase the risk of stress and sleeping problems (Volpi, 2012). Men suffer from depression and sleeping disorders due to Internet usage. The urgent question is connected with the link between technology advancement and growing health problems, but more often it is overuse that becomes the cause of such disbalances.
It is interesting to know how modern technology affects our sleep. It is found out that the artificial light from computer screens influences melatonin production and disturbs heart rhythms, preventing deep, sound sleep (Volpi, 2012). That’s why if a person texts or surfs the Internet at bedtime, he/she may have difficulties in falling asleep. Irregular sleep or even constant insomnia may result in changing mood, behavior and cognitive problems during the day. Due to the STRICT (sleep time related information and communication technology) study, children and adolescents experience such sleep-related problems, as excessive movement, leg pain and finally insomnia (Paddock, 2010). As sleep is quite habitual in its essence, in the future, these people with sleeping problems will face the need for additional stimulation before sleep and finally it can result in drug addiction as well.
In order to avoid such problems in the future it is necessary for a person to follow some simple advice, for example to switch off the computer at least an hour before going to bed or to remove the computer from his/her bedroom. Public health authorities and technology companies should unite their efforts in preventing this problem as well, for example for companies to write warnings on their products like “Use the Internet responsibly” or “Don’t surf, go to bed.”

In spite of the fact that many studies emphasize the negative impacts of the Internet usage on people’s mental health and well-being, some scholars assume that it could have the opposite effect as well. First of all, social networking is regarded as a useful tool in finding out individuals with mental health problems, though the networking activity can be an indicator of a person’s psychological health as well. Using social media may even spread the feeling of happiness, because in fact, people look for others with the same interests and hobbies to have an opportunity to exchange emotional expressions through social networks. Swaminath (2008) shares the opinion of many mental health experts who agree that the Internet provides reliable service to people searching for support groups, treatment options, and other help, and Web sites, newsgroups, and E-mail may be of vital importance for them (para. 4).
In recent years, there has been developed an internet-based initiative that successfully applies technology and social branding to provide a service called “Reach Out!” that improves the mental health and well-being of young people in Australia aged 16 to 25. Nicholas (2010) asserts that if the Internet and related information and communication technology are a way of life for young people, they should be used as a means to improve mental health outcomes for users (p. 86). Nowadays, one in three young people in Australia is aware of this service which helps reduce stigma, increase mental health literacy, strengthen meaningful participation and relationships, and improve general emotional state (Nicholas, 2010, p. 86).
Thus, the Internet and relevant computer services don’t have only a destructive but a constructive effect as well. The modern world with its advanced technologies and new strategies appearing every day can’t be changed, but may be adapted to the needs of people in order to make their life brighter and healthier at the same time. The Internet addiction requires developing an interdisciplinary approach when the corresponding authorities combine together social networking, mental health content, technology, and youth participation programs in order for young people to resolve their problems while surfing the Net, capturing the information and improving the help-seeking behavior of those who visit the site together with them.