Passions of the Contemporary World: Cyber-Addictions and Remedies Against them

Technology has entered intrusively into human existence, into society and into the modern family, where we live or work, and even into our minds and souls. It is widely used today in all of its variants, thus making us addicted, to one degree or another, on its means of presentation. We are currently talking about a so-called Homo Connecticus, which is attached to everything that means media and digital technology: TV, PC, tablet, laptop, smartphone, etc., hence the new forms of cyber-addiction or technology- assisted addictions. Recent evaluations show that, in a life of about 75 years, contemporary man spends, on average, 11 years in front of these modern means of information, without even noticing the side effects of its usage. Scientist talk about ”digital stress”, “computer depression” or “nomophobia”, anxiety, mental and physical discomfort, all of these caused by technology’s absence. When we talk about the effects of digital technology on the human being, consciousness makes us acknowledge, first of all, its positive sides, which facilitate and help us in our everyday life. On the other hand and with the same discernment, we must be aware of the potential drawbacks that can lead to a lack of control and purposefulness. Thus, media is neither good, par excellence, nor eminently harmful, and its quality is revealed according to the way man uses it: either wisdomly, for intellectual and spiritual practices, or in an abusive and addictive matter, causing harm to the soul and the body. In all things, the true Christian must seek spiritual freedom and inner unity. When it comes to children or young people, whose perception is not fully stated or practiced, parents are called, first of all, to provide a positive and healthy digital behavior for their children. We can even talk about a “digital abstinence” or “digital detoxification”, thus meaning browsing the Internet from a more responsible approach. By doing this, digital devices and healthy technology habits can be practiced by the whole family, both parents and children.