Saturday, November 17, 2007

"Korean Boot Camp Aims to Cure Web Addiction"

Seokyong Lee for The New York Times

MOKCHEON, South Korea — The compound — part boot camp, part rehab center — resembles programs around the world for troubled youths. Drill instructors drive young men through military-style obstacle courses, counselors lead group sessions, and there are even therapeutic workshops on pottery and drumming.

Lee Chang-hoon, 15, runs an obstacle course at the Jump Up Internet Rescue School. He spent almost all of his time online before his mother sent him to the camp. “Seventeen hours a day online is fine,” he said at the camp.

But these young people are not battling alcohol or drugs. Rather, they have severe cases of what many in this country believe is a new and potentially deadly addiction: cyberspace...

4 comments:

Kyle said...

The internet is both one of my greatest helps and greatest problems as a missionary. I've been able to keep in contact with friends and get encouragement from them, it has also become a crutch from adjusting to the culture itself. I know my addiction is based on unmet needs and am trying to find ways to be outside my lonely house and make more friends outside.

Dennis said...

I spend a tremendous amount of time on the internet. It is both blessing and bane. I've learned a lot on the web and I have also wasted a lot of time on the web. I suppose the key is discernment and discipline which are not always easy to apply.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Groothuis,

Dr. Rodney Decker wrote an interesting piece about the technology that you might be interested in:

http://ntresources.com/blog/?p=71

Tony and Julie said...

There is no doubt that the internet has opened doors for connection and information that would remain closed to most individuals if it weren't available. However, as with most things in life, I believe Christians have a responsibility to determine how much use and what content is edifying. I'm not referring to blatantly unedifying content, such as pornography and violent video games. There are many sites out there with information that may not directly harmful, but nonetheless consumes hours of user time with little benefit to the being.