Empowering Adult Learners and Educators to Combat Internet Addiction
The internet is an indispensable component of modern life, offering unparalleled opportunities for connection, information, and educational entertainment. However, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) poses a significant risk, adversely affecting individuals' well-being and daily functioning. IAD is characterized by excessive internet use, leading to detrimental effects in social, academic, occupational, and psychological domains. Those afflicted with IAD often prioritize online activities over real-life interactions, neglect their responsibilities, and experience withdrawal symptoms when offline. Many adults devote extensive hours to social media, gaming, or email, at the expense of work and family time. Although we appear connected online, our offline relationships deteriorate as virtual interactions take precedence.
The latent impact of IAD is profound, surreptitiously damaging relationships, performance, and mental health. It can induce anxiety, depression, and diminished self-worth. The boundary between normal ICT usage and problematic use that culminates in IAD is often subtle. These consequences underscore the critical need to address IAD and its effects on individuals' lives. In response, the European Union's Erasmus+ Programme is funding the “IADliber” project, aimed at mitigating IAD. This initiative seeks to support adult educators, particularly those engaged with low-educated adults, by equipping them with educational materials to address IAD through self-awareness, mindfulness, and focus techniques. Adult educators, in both traditional and online environments, witness firsthand the impact of excessive internet use on students' academic performance and engagement. Additionally, many adult learners face the challenge of balancing IAD with family responsibilities, employment, and educational pursuits.
The Maltese organization MECB Ltd is a member of the IADliber consortium, contributing to the development of a Survival Tool Kit. This toolkit is designed to enhance skills, fostering a society better equipped to resist IAD.
For more information about this project, kindly visit the IADliber project website.
For other projects revolving around the Digital Transformation, STEM Education, Circular Economy, and Entrepreneurship; please visit MECB’s website.
