COMPULSIVE INTERNET USE

GOOD DAY EVERYONE AND WELCOME! MY NAME IS CINDY REYES

OMBAO AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK WITH
YOU ALL. I HOPE THAT MY WORDS WILL BE INFORMATIVE AND
INSPIRING, AND THAT TOGETHER WE CAN LEARN AND GROW FROM
THIS SPEECH. THANKYOU FOR BEING HERE AND LET'S MAKE THE MOST
OF OUR TIME TOGETHER.

I’m sure everyone who is presented here today knows how to navigate
the internet or social media, and you also know that using the internet
or any gadgets in this world can turn you into an addict. A slave to
technology, a blind human being whose sole purpose is to use the
internet to satisfy his/her needs without caring for its own health,
surroundings and other people’s lives. How far can a person use the
internet before realizing that he/she’s using it in the wrong way? What
is the difference between a normal internet user and a compulsive
internet user? How long can you fool yourself that you’re not a
computer addict? When are you gonna realize that you are using the
internet compulsively?

As of November 2023, there were 5.3 billion internet users worldwide,

which amounted to 65.7 percent of the global population. Of this total,
4.95 billion, or 61.4 percent of the world's
population, were social media users. And 24% of these are teens who
are already addicted to social media, gaming platforms just like you
guys. Do you also know that in every 5 people worldwide there is
always 1 who is addicted to social media, according to a study by
GlobalWebIndex. The average person spends 2 hours and 24 minutes
per day on social media platforms. Can you tell to yourself that you are
also an average person who only spends this much on the internet or
are you going to admit that you are a compulsive internet user? Yes, it’s
not bad to use the internet if you have a thirst for knowledge, new
experiences but if you don’t know how to control yourself, your thirst
will soon turn into hunger until you become addicted to it. You see, the
internet is man-made. It perfectly responds to the needs of its users
and will always leave you with satisfaction and hunger for more. Most
of the people on earth tend to view the internet as an entertainment, a
type of tool that we can use for passing time, to have fun and enjoy. But
those things will gradually change overtime, the entertainment you
seek will soon turn into a cage like prison. We used to use the internet
for passing time but now it has become a tool that we use for our daily
life. A tool that we can’t live without.

Compulsive internet use is like a sickness that has no cure, a drug that
uses “entertainment” to fool its users. Technology nowadays can be
found everywhere, in every corner of earth. It becomes a necessity in
life. How ironic that the internet/technology is a man-made to improve
the flow of life and make life more enjoyable but it is also the very
reason why some people commit suicide, gambling, cyber-bullying,
thievery, made prostitution legal by the use of porn websites. It is also
the reason why most teens or soon to be adults tend to use the internet
for validation, acceptance, and approval of others. The internet accepts
your worries and fears instantly, provides you with comfort, and serves
as a distraction, making you addicted to it without your knowledge. The
difference between compulsive internet users and slaves is that slaves
are completely aware that their freedom has been taken away.