When I first read about South Korea’s new Internet Addiction boot camps, Jump Up Internet Rescue, I wasn’t that surprised. Considering South Korea is arguably the most “wired” country on the planet Earth it seemed like if someone was going to spearhead a program like this, they would.

Haven’t heard about the Internet Rescue Camp? Lets explore.

The numbers that the New York Times article on this subject quote state that about 30 Percent of South Korea’s under 18 population are at risk for “Internet Addiction.” What does that mean exactly? Some 2.4 million people may be showing the classic signs of dependence, including inability to sleep, withdrawal and isolation.

Jump Up Internet Rescue

The Internet Rescue camp takes 16 to 18 male students into the forest, denies them access to computers, gives them about 1 hour of cell phone time a day and makes them exercise, horseback ride and participate in all sorts of other offline activities. The aim is to allow these kids to build relationships outside of cyberspace. Sounds like a great plan, but…

The biggest question I have is whether we should focus so strongly on the web as the cause of the problem. Programs like these completely ignore other arguably more important issues.

Like television before it, children who use the Internet obsessively often do so to fill preexisting voids in their lives. Whether it’s working parents, social awkwardness or depression — compulsive behavior is just that, compulsion, regardless of the manifestation. Singling out the Internet as a cause instead of a result probably won’t do much to help these children where they really need it.

Web 2.0 Roundup

The Internet Rescue camp might be effective. If nothing else, giving children who crave belonging but don’t know how to get an opportunity to interact with others like them might go a long way to break down some of the barriers that caused them to turn to the Internet in the first place. That being said, using the web as a scapegoat just feels like an easy way to pass blame. What do you think?

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