I am addicted to the internet. please help!!!!?

Question

it's not as easy as "just turn your computer off" for me. i'm 16 years old, and when i get up in the morning, i go pee, then i get on the internet while i eat breakfast. then i pretend to be doing my schoolwork (homeschool myself) until my parents leave for work, and i'm back on the computer until they get home at 6 pm. i feel, i if i had no internet access, i would exercise more (for something to do) and wouldn't weigh 180. i wouldn't be 2 mo. behind in my schoolwork, i wouldn't be tempted to download illegally, go to dirty websites, and lie about everything online, and maybe i would get my life back on track and start having daily devotions with God again. i came up with a plan, and that would be give my internet card to my parents every night, and they hide it or take it with them to work (i have my own laptop). when they get home, i get the card back and am allowed 1 hr. online with their supervision. but i just don't know if i can take that step. HELP!!!!!!

Answer 1

Your parents can get a program that's password protected and only allows you online for a certain amount of time, or for certain hours of the day.  You could ask them to install one of the programs.

Or, they can install a cyber sitter type program that blocks all of your "fun" sites unless they log you in with their password.  We have this on our son's pc just so he won't see anything we don't want him to see...sometimes Google searches bring up some not-so-nice stuff!  We can set the logs to allow the sites he needs for school and block all the rest.

We use this program, I Protect You:

http://www.softforyou.com/

They also  have programs like the one I first described.

Answer 2

I understand exactly what your going through right now. I'm 17 years old and I'm seriously addicted to the computer, mostly myspace though. I constantly feel the need to get on the computer, but I don't want my parents to think I'm completely obsessed or anything because I'm not. So, I use alot of will power to stay off the computer. I'm not homeschooled, so whenever I get home from school I get on the computer for just alittle bit then I stay off for like an hour. So, pretty much every half an hour I get off and on the computer. My advice for you is try and take that step, if it ends up not working out for you then just let things go back to the way they were. In my own opinion, it's completely normal for us teenagers to be online 24/7 because we never have anything else to do. Just make sure you don't get on the dirty websites though because chances are your parents will find out and it so will not be worth it at all. I hope my advice helps.

Answer 3

Ever heard of the power of "choice".

In this case there should be a parental choice in taking these objects away from you, and help you get back on track.

Parents need to make sure their children are not placed in situations they cannot handle, and get you into healthy activities.

I cannot imagine that you have so much unsupervised time on line that this has mushroomed in such a big problem.

Please do turn in your laptop, and Internet card to your parents asap, and unless it is directly related to school, and is supervised you should not be on line at all.

Answer 4

Ask your parents to take the router to work with them.

Answer 5

Internet can be adictive. I remember being there for days, downloading stuff, reading, researching.. ect. but like everyhting in life, it gets boring after a while. If you feel being online is interfering with your daily activities, try making a checklist of the things you need to do such as homework, cleaning, eating and such, and then after doing your chores reward yourself by going online. If you hand that card to your parents you will be creating more anxiety and conditioning the situation as something labeled as wrong. You might be a little out of control, but not addicted., as you go to school and do other stuff...

Answer 6

Well, I totally love the Internet and I am a homeschooled 15 yr old, and from my experience of homeschooling myself (yeah, my parents don't do anything for me) I have found that you must be totally SELF MOTIVATED....that is the key to homeschooling in my opinion, unless you have a personal tutor....If I were you, I would make a schedule for myself and just motivate myself to follow it somehow...I don't know b/c I am extremely self motivated, but honestly make a daily schedule for yourself, it will make you feel better about yourself!  Good luck!

Answer 7

You have already taken a great step by coming up with a plan. I think you have amazing will-power and should definately do that. Espically the daily devotions. I think I am going to do that starting tomorrow (except at meal times when I have to record what I am eating on the computer, and to do my math homework [I take an online math course]) by having my computer off during the day, and unplugging my TV because I do the same thing. Thanks for the suggestion too. Good luck!

Answer 8

lol, i use to have the SAME problem..my family hated it..i was online 24/7 right after school i would rush home and go online..i blew off friends who i was suppose to hang out with so i could go online..i was mostly a myspace addict...couldnt get enough..i had 20,000 friends..lmaooo i stopped b/c my family had enough of it..i nvr spent time with them...i was happy then, but its alot more rewarding to spend real time with real people...try to limit your time...you should really catch up with your school work..that's really important =)

Answer 9

If that's what you feel like a good solution would be than do it! Only have them take it to work with them so you won't be tempted to look for it. Also talk to your parents about whats been going on. Be honest with them. Do your parents have a computer in the house on line? I ask because that would be a temptation for you.

Answer 10

You could always turn to drugs.

But seriously, you could always develop some will power and just quit getting on the internet. The internet sucks. Pop up ads, viruses, and people like me slandering you anonymously.