Andrew Keen argues: “Digital addiction is the world’s next great health crisis”
Silicon Valley entrepreneur and author of the ‘The Internet is Not the Answer’, Andrew Keen recently argued in an article for ‘The Next Web’ that in the future, if we continue in the direction we’re headed, we may have another health crisis on our hands: internet addiction.
In the article Keen runs through various case studies of people so badly affected by their addiction to social media, gaming and the internet in general, it has affected the course of their lives profoundly. Keen writes: “A recent poll by a British law firm revealed that one in seven people have contemplated divorce because of their spouse’s social media activity.”
Whilst internet addiction is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), Keen argues that its overuse can be destructive. And whilst many of us would argue that we need to use the internet for work, travel and the running of our day-to-day lives, Keen warns that it is still something to be used in moderation; like a sugary treat or fast food, not to be over-indulged in. We must ensure that the internet doesn’t control our lives or prevent us from living them.
To read the full article, please click here.
In this session, we examine how robotics can affect our livelihood and what policies are needed for humans to prosper in the new age of robots.
