There are many different types of Problematic Internet Use (PIU) that affect people of all ages. PIU can lead to someone becoming disconnected from the physical world, or simply act as a way for that person to waste time. One area on the internet that can lead to PIU is StumbleUpon.
StumbleUpon is a toolbar for Firefox with the main feature of bringing you to a random web page any time you click the "Stumble!" button. To use this toolbar you need an account and that is because the toolbar has options for ranking any page with either a thumbs up or a thumbs down, and your rankings are monitored and stored. They are used the next time you push the "Stumble!" button to help the program find a page that you'll like. Also, there are features for selecting categories that you're interested, and this also helps Stumble find pages that it thinks will interest you.
Stumble leads to PIU for many reasons - if it brings you to a site that you like, you will spend time on that site and then you are likely to push the "Stumble!" button again because you expect to find another site that you like. If it brings you to a site that you don't like, you will likely push the "Stumble!" button again because you want to find a site that you like. Obviously this is a problem as there is no apparent end to this cycle of traveling around the web looking for entertainment. Stumble can also lead to the "just one more site" mentality where the user of Stumble realizes it is time to stop, but they want to find just one more entertaining site. Unfortunately, the cycle of continually clicking the "Stumble" button usually tkaes over. Caplan defines PIU as "maladaptive cognitions and behaviors involving Internet use that result in negative academic, professional, and social consequences”. Stumble can lead to any or all of these negative results because if someone is using Stumble, they are not doing work for school or a job, and they are not socializing with others in the physical world.
Caplan's model also explains why some people can become addicted to StumbleUpon with pyschosocial theory and internet affordances. . Stumble does not generally lead to any social interactions online so someone who has low social competence may feel more comfortable using Stumble. Generally, the internet adds a layer of anonymity to social interactions, but someone who is not even comfortable with online social interactions can feel comfortable using Stumble. Also, any ratings that someone makes to a webpage can be hidden from other users to provide even more protection. However, if a user does choose to let other members of Stumble see his/her rankings, it is easy for the user to manage their self -presentation because they don't have to rank pages if they don't want to. There is also a decreased level of perceived social risk and social responsibility to a user using Stumble because as with many spaces online, they can appear anonymous and safe. A user of Stumble can use Stumble to avoid social responsibilities in the physical world as well.
Stumble also has the interesting property that it appeals to people of all ages and interests. Because of all the configuration options and the fact that Stumble learns over time what types of pages interest you, it is very easy for anyone to configure Stumble to show pages they find interesting. Stumble can be a great way to pass some time when bored because it will often show you interesting pages on the web; however, it can also be a dangerous tool towards PIU.
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1 comment:
Matt, this is a great example of a non-social addiction that doesn't involve psychosocial problems. It also exhibits a variable feedback schedule, which Wallace argues only furthers addiction. What's also interesting is that this lies in the toolbar of the browser, making it omnipresent regardless of what one is doing on the web. Unlike bookmarks or URLs, the button is always sitting there waiting to be pressed.
The rating system helps to build the feedback look Caplan describes. As the user keeps using it, the system becomes more accurate and only increases the benefits from Stumbling... making it a more attractive option as time goes on.
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