Evasion from the
Addiction of
Digital Culture
10204 Kim Kyu Myung
Evasion from the Addiction of Digital Culture
10204 Kim Kyu Myung
Nowadays people worldwide, especially Koreans are heavily addicted to 'Digital Culture'. 'Digital Culture is an artificial culture that exercises the use of modernized information and technologies such as internets and cell phones. Although these digital cultures contribute to humankind in numerous ways, there are many detriments that this culture is giving. In Korea, teenagers going through adolescents particularly are poisoned to digital cultures. According to the survey carried out by the 'Korean Information Correspondence', 60% of the internet users in Korea are almost or are addicted and 40% of them are Korean teenagers. Then what is making teens to become devoted to this culture? Is this the problem of the individuals or the problem of the whole country? What is the solution for this dilemma? I assert that both apathetic control of the governments and lack of self-restraint have caused this turmoil issue.
From the perspective that 'information equipments are the elongation of human's sense,' these equipments to teenagers function like tattoos on their body or parts of their body (Professor Jang).
Before mentioning the liabilities of digital culture, I¡¯m going to elucidate some of the benefits that digital culture has assimilated to Korea. Following the development of technologies, the digital culture¡¯s accommodation and amusements have reinforced. As an example, cell phone is a suitable media that possesses mobility and portability which grants a chance for teens to exhibit their feelings and emotions. ¡®The assembly of friends in your pocket¡¯ seems highly gifted. Phoning and text messaging has conferred some kind of shelter to teenagers of Korea, especially when they are lamented by strict and excessive rules. Furthermore, there is a crucial factor that cannot be excluded, the internet. With more opportunities to describe oneself and pacifying his/her hobbies, internet also became a leisure place. The frequent use and simplicity of the internet has enabled everybody to search, apply and manufacture information and contents unsophisticatedly.
Contrarily, due to the ownership of these equipments and easy utilization of the internet has promoted the withdrawal symptoms of teenagers.
'Addiction to informational equipments' can be defined as a person¡¯s excessive uses of internets and cells phones have caused serious hindrance in social, mental and physical way. Observing the symptoms generated by addiction, first is a compulsion and adhesion. 'Constant thinking of checking E-mail or messages' or getting depressed and fretful if the equipment is not nearby you is a typical symptom. Furthermore, chronic independence to computers and mobiles to eradicate the feeling of melancholy is a grave predicament of addicts.
Second is tolerance and prohibition. 'Tolerance' in this sentence means to venture more time on more stimulating contents that can be found in 'Digital Culture' to give oneself a satisfaction. For example, the internet addicts, their time wondering in the cyberspace extends and it is harder for them to escape out from on-line. He or she will endeavor to diminish the time spent on the internet but continuous fail. This will consequence renunciation of one's goal and continence.
Last but not least is the hindrance in his or her daily life due to inseparability of reality and imagination. As a case, studies have proved that addicts mal-function in school or social activities due to their irrepressible aggravating feelings. These as a result, often become factor that endorses teens to commit deviating conduct.
Then, how are we going to handle or solve this critical problem? I believe that perpetual fusion efforts from home, school, society and government will gradually lessen the number of addicts who are suffering from the 'Digital Culture'.
At home, it is rudimentary for parents or elders reinforce the etiquette when using cell phones or computers in public places. Planting perception that ID and responsibility in 'Digital Culture' also is very significant may prevent teens from too much exposure to the ¡®imaginary land¡¯. Temporary interests and mottos from close members of the family will later become medicine.
At school, ethical solutions that are related to informative society should be revised and provided. At this course, teens obtain knowledges that are concerned with responsibilities and sorting out of the information.
Finally, Governments and civil groups (society) together should supply wholesome contents and websites that will warn teens to connecting into harmful websites both with computers and cell phones. After this procedure, evaluation and strict supervision by the social members are necessary too.
So I have discussed about the reality of Korean teenager's addiction to 'Digital Culture' that turns out to furnish a lot of problems to Korean society. Contrasting with other countries, Korea¡¯s rapid development and cultural mutation evidently consequences negative-effects. The problem of addiction to 'Digital Culture' is not something to be handled just by individuals, but accordance and combination of efforts will eventually result decrease in teenager's addiction to machineries such as cell phones and computers (Kim).
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