Subject File INTERNET ADDICTION

Internet Addiction

The term "internet addiction" is not new, and it is well known that spending extended periods of time online is detrimental to one's health. Screens affect our eyes, the internet affects our cognitive processes, and so forth. However, a new study shows that internet addiction has more profound effects, changing our brains' neurons completely.

Ex. 1: Complete the text below with a suitable word.

brain - chemistry - connectivity - control - decision 

disruption - focusing - memory - urge - usage

Endless scrolling on the Internet: a habit, harmless at first sight, afflicts a significant portion of the population. This behaviour has become a compulsive addiction that has far-reaching consequences. 

Around one third of people globally are at risk of smartphone addiction, an issue linked to excessive Internet __________ (1). According to a new study, researchers have uncovered disturbing changes in the brain __________ (2) of young individuals grappling with Internet addiction. 

Their findings reveal a complex interplay of neural activity with multiple __________(3) networks displaying heightened activity even during resting states. This __________(4) in brain function is particularly alarming because it can potentially lead to a cascade of adverse effects. 

The study also reveals a worrying decline in another crucial brain network: the functional __________ (5) in areas responsible for executive __________ (6) functions including __________ (7) and __________ (8) making were significantly weakened. This imbalance can explain the struggles that young people with Internet addiction often face: difficulty in __________ (9), prioritizing tasks, and resisting the _________ (10) to return to the online world despite the negative consequences. 

The neurological price of excessive Internet use is becoming increasingly evident, and addressing the challenge will require a multi-faceted approach involving families, educators and policy makers. 

Ex. 2: Now watch the video and check your answers.

Ex. 3: Rephrase the adjectives in bold.

Are you addicted to your smartphone?

Ex. 4: Listening Comprehension. 

BBC Learning English - 6 Minute English: Are you addicted to your smartphone?

Ex. 5: Complete the phrases below with words you hear in the podcast.

1. 18 to 19 hours .... a day or ... a week

2. How long do you spend ... your smartphone?

3. to suffer ... FOMO (fear of missing out)

4. I have to ... checking my phone.

5. to miss ... on something

6. to look ... your phone 

7. to have a quick look ... my phone

8. a need to ... on doing it

9. you can't stop ... it

10. How long could you go ... it?

11. increase ... mental health problems

12. to get involved ... our phones

13. to ... our phones compulsively

14. see most people ... person 

15. to spend more time ... face-to-face interaction

16. keeping ... touch with people

17. to look it ... on my phone 

KEY

Ex. 1: (1) usage; (2) chemistry; (3) brain; (4) disruption; (5) connectivity; (6) control; (7) memory; (8) decision; (9) focusing; (10) urge; 

Ex. 3: detrimental to = harmful; profound = deep, intense, great; harmless = unlikely to cause damage; compulsive = difficult to stop or control; excessive = too much of sth.; adverse = negative; evident = obvious

Ex. 5: 1. in/in; 2. on; 3. from; 4. keep; 5. out; 6. at; 7. on; 8. keep; 9. doing; 10. without; 11. in; 12. in; 13. check; 14. in;  16. in; 15. in; 17. up;