Multi-Distracting: Internet Use And Depression
Self portrait in an Internet Cafe.
Whenever I feel down I really should meditate or exercise, but instead I often try to lose my self in the net. This takes a predictable form, multiple windows, reading everything on Metafilter, waiting for some email to CHANGE MY LIFE, obsessively seeking out Internet video. It’s all very unsatisfying, but yet the most superficially satisfying thing to do. Turns out it may not just be me.
The use of P2P sharing–Bittorrent and similar file exchange programs–was a correlative indicator of depression, as was the practice of checking email more often. Another big indicator was exhibiting high amounts of what’s called “flow duration entropy”–otherwise known as multitasking–switching between disparate apps quickly. The study’s authors make no claims that these behaviors cause depression. Rather, P2P downloads and hyper multitasking are just potentially reliable symptoms of it, like the digital version of lethargy and weight gain. Their next step is to develop software to monitor web usage that could alert someone if they were exhibiting depressed behaviors online–maybe even alert a counselor in the process, too. (Diagnosing Depression, By Watching How You Surf The Web)
It’s very interesting, not just that there is a particular Internet usage style associated with depression (or just feeling bummed) but that this pattern could be used therapeutically. I always thought that my computer should simply not let me login unless I meditated in the morning, and then lock me out in the evening until I exercised. One could call this a sort of Gamification Of Life, coding in cues to better living that our ad hoc technological environment doesn’t naturally provide.
I’m happy to be featured in Echelon magazine’s 40 Under 40 feature, profiling young people who contribute to the economy in some way, mainly in business but also in terms of innovation and thought leadership. It’s an interesting article not just in that I’m in it (mainly for work on indi.ca and 
I won’t add too much commentary, but just read I guess. The youngest Rajapaksa, Rohitha (Chi Chi) has given an amazing interview to the 
In 2009 this strange character appeared on the Sri Lankan Internet scene, getting angry, flaming, trolling whatever. Then he started naming anonymous bloggers, posting comments as people’s kids, nasty stuff, for which I removed him from 
The chutzpah of this government knows no bounds. Every government since Independence has had to balance placating Sinhala nationalists (AKA racists) while at the same time actually running a sensible, inclusive nation that doesn’t send minority citizens, capital and foreign investment fleeing. Basically, they’ve had to pay lip service to nationalists while at the same time trying to run an actual nation. Every government has also generally failed, SWRD being killed by a nationalist monk and everyone after almost losing the country to various rebellions. In that context Mahinda is actually doing a better job by virtue of not being dead and not losing control of the country. But he’s still not doing a good job.
Very honest post Indi.
When I feel frustrated, I put down the lid of the laptop and walk around, and grab a book. A book on meditation/ inspiration.
Honestly when frustrated I can’t meditate. Sometimes Maithree bhavana. Yet need to get the mind still before anything.
Lots of issues will be in future if we don’t know when to quit. Depression, anxiety are symtoms and a vicious cycle.
Regards
Isura
Isura – you are so right. I did exactly that yesterday. My work means internet 247….I had had enough, had a glass of chilled white wine by the Bentota river at sunset and then walked home with a smile on my face, had a take-out pizza and read my trashy novel. This morning I felt fine.
Ankie – of course. Different persons have different rhythms and mixes. Need to balance the down as well as the up.
Great to connect and share.
Thanks
Isura
super stuff
Bummer! I’m depressed!
I think I’ve been going through this too. :/
We all go through this…..
[...] train station, long exposure. I wrote previously about Internet use and depression, how we tend to multi-distract and overstimulate when feeling bummed. This is an effect which Dr. [...]