And You Thought You Were Wired
Many of us today can’t imagine our lives without the Internet – for better or for worse. Some of us - present company included - literally make a living through the Internet, whether that be through web design and marketing or online sales. Sometimes, though, we’d do anything just to have a day with no email, online news, or instant messaging.
Seeing so many people chained to their laptops and blackberries, it can seem hard to imagine a society more addicted to the Internet than our own – but clearly, South Korea is in the lead.
The New York Times has named South Korea the world’s most wired nation, where 90% of households have a broadband connection (compared to about half of American households). The reason for this title is more evident, though, with the recent introduction of Internet addiction counseling centers throughout the country – 140 of them to be exact.
Those with the most serious addictions can attend an “Internet Rescue Camp”. The camp is much like rehabilitation for other addictions, consisting of 12 day sessions that concentrate on outdoor activities and team building.
The main target for these rehabilitation programs isn’t the average user relying on the Internet for business. South Korea’s counseling centers focus on youth under 18, who are usually at risk for Internet addiction because of online gaming.
Online gamers beware – could Internet rehab be coming to a town near you?
