Technology & Science

An investigative podcast concerning the breach of privacy on the internet.

Breach of Privacy

Good evening and welcome to our show. Today, we open a discussion on one of the most pressing issues of the digital world: the violation of privacy online. In an age where our personal data is more exposed than ever, protecting our privacy seems to be one of the biggest problems of modern society. In this show, we'll look at the dangers lurking online, the most common hacking methods and how we can protect ourselves from them. Join us for a revealing discussion on a topic that concerns us all.
Breach of privacy refers to any action or behavior that violates an individual's right to keep their personal life, data and information confidential. This may include actions such as: unauthorized access to personal data, monitoring without consent, dissemination of personal information without the consent of the individual, or collection of data without the information and consent of the person concerned.
To make it easier to understand the seriousness of the matter, we will read you some cases that have happened in the past:
1.	The Cambridge Analytica scandal (2018): Cambridge Analytica had obtained personal data of millions of Facebook users without their consent, which it then used for political advertising and to influence elections, such as the one in the US in 2016. The breach sparked global concern over the collection and use of personal data by large tech companies.
2.	The Equifax data breach (2017): Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting companies in the US, was breached by hackers, affecting the personal and financial data of approximately 147 million people. The breach included social security numbers, dates of birth, and other sensitive information.
3.	Google's tracking of users: In 2018, it was revealed that Google was tracking and recording users' location, even if they had disabled the location settings on their devices. The company has been criticized for its lack of transparency and violation of user privacy.
4.	The Target Data Breach (2013): US store chain Target suffered a data breach during the Christmas season in 2013. Thieves gained access to approximately 40 million credit and debit card numbers, as well as personal data of 70 million customers.
5.	The Ashley Madison Breach (2015): The Ashley Madison dating website, which targeted people who wanted extramarital affairs, was hacked in 2015. Hackers obtained and published the personal data of millions of users of the platform, which had serious consequences for the personal lives and family relationships of many people.
These cases show the serious consequences of privacy violations and the importance of protecting personal data in today's world. When sending electronic messages, we should not give information about ourselves to the person we are communicating with if we do not know who they are. Otherwise, we run the risk of this information being a source of ridicule or bullying by certain users. Also, we should be very careful when joining group chats about sharing our personal information, because in these groups it is not prohibited for a member to share our information. Finally, we should be particularly careful regarding the passwords we use, that they are safe, that they are not the same in all applications, that we change them often - every three months -, that we do not write them down anywhere and that we do not reveal them to anyone, except our parents.
This concludes episode 1 of our Safer Internet podcast series. Stay tuned to hear the remaining episodes of the series. Thank you for listening. Interactive First, The End.


An investigative about online scams and howthey affect our lives.

Online Scams

ONLINE SCAMS
Good evening and welcome to our show. Today, we open a discussion on another of the most pressing issues in the digital world: online scams, an issue that has a significant impact on individuals and the online community as a whole and constitutes one of the biggest problems of modern society. Join us for a revealing discussion on a topic that concerns us all. 
Cyber fraud is a type of fraud or deception in cybercrime that uses the Internet and may involve concealing information or providing false information, with the aim of deceiving victims into extracting money, property, and inheritance.
The recent surge in online fraud, with fraudsters constantly coming up with new ways to defraud unsuspecting citizens, has caused immense concern. The fraud ecosystem has flourished around the world, with criminals perfecting different strategies to outwit consumers. According to the FBI's 2017 Internet Crime Report, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received nearly 300,000 complaints. Victims lost over $1.4 billion to online fraud in 2017.
According to a study conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and McAfee, cybercrime costs the global economy 600 billion dollars, which translates to 0.8 percent of total global GDP. And as cash or, more specifically cryptocurrencies, flows in, a set of digital services is helping criminals with everything from creating fake social media pages to buying SIM cards and, most importantly, money laundering. Now, researchers say the largest illegal online marketplace ever is no longer focused on drugs and other contraband, but rather selling services to other fraudsters.
A click can cost the user a lot if they fall into the traps of the Internet. The circuits act with particular professionalism, constantly changing methods of action, bringing in large profits. Their main goal is to extract codes, pins and other personal data, to use them in financial fraud, extortion and other illegal activities. The new online trap is carried out through fake emails sent by the scammers, claiming to be representatives of a specific European agency, informing users about alleged compensation that should be given to them.
Online fraud comes in many forms. It ranges from spam emails to online scams. Online fraud can occur whether it is partly based on the use of Internet services or is primarily or entirely based on the use of the Internet. In particular, the main scams that have concerned authorities around the world and can occur at any time, as the circuits continue their activities, are the following
Scam no1, With a post office or bank stamp. In recent months, a ring of fraudsters has been circulating massively misleading SMS messages with the ELTA logo. The lure is the alleged offer of gifts, mainly mobile phones. However, the ultimate goal of the scammers is to extract personal data from their victims, such as card details and PINs. ELTA reacted immediately and issued a statement for people to ignore such messages. Correspondingly, messages are often sent to unsuspecting bank customers, asking them to reveal their details and passwords, supposedly from the banks where they have their accounts. Banks on their part warn their customers never to respond to such messages, and that they will never ask for such information.
Scam no2, Specialized technicians. Professional scammers attempt to deceive Internet users by pretending to be technicians working in support centers of large software companies. Through calls from third-party phones, they offer to help solve technical computer problems. They ask victims to install remote access software on their computers. In this way, they gain full control and access to stored passwords, which they can then use in illegal activities. For example, at least 1,000 euros were stolen from the deposits of a 37-year-old woman from Patras who fell victim to a fraudster. The perpetrator pretended to be an employee of a large computer company and convinced her that her computer was being monitored. The unsuspecting woman allowed him access, resulting in the perpetrator withdrawing money from her account, which he then deposited by wire transfer to a bank in Slovenia.
Scam no3, Investment scam. In Australia, a man lost 50,000 dollars in fake online trading. He was approached by phone by an online trader who specialized in binary options, cryptocurrencies and forex trading. The trader claimed that his company used the latest technology, in terms of financial transactions, and could offer guaranteed returns. At first, the victim's transactions were profitable and he continued to invest more and more, since he was promised that he would earn even more. But when he wanted to withdraw his money, he was told that he had to pay taxes on his profits, to be able to access them, but without being warned about it, his trades began to fail and his accumulated profits began to decrease. Eventually, he got back 3 percent of his initial investment.
Scam no4, Romance scam. Scammers take advantage of people looking for partners, often through dating sites, apps or social media, by impersonating potential partners. They express strong feelings for the victims and go to great lengths to gain their interest and trust. They play on emotional sensitivities that the victims may have, to extort money, gifts or personal information from them. A typical case is that of a woman, a victim of a romance scam, who lost 20,000 dollars. She had been approached on Facebook by someone who claimed to be in Afghanistan with the American army. After convincing her to send him iTunes gift cards, he told her he would come see her and marry her, but soon after, he was delayed on another special mission. He gave her many excuses for why he could not return to America. Finally, he said he was in Congo, in Africa, and out of the military, but he could not come home. He had gold that he wanted to send back, for some reason, which had been given to him for saving the life of someone in the Middle East. But the gold was confiscated, and he went to jail and asked the woman for 8,000 dollars to get out. 
Scam no5, Users fell victim to a very clever website that advertised cheap barbecue. Payment was made via credit card with a 2.99 percent fee. The victims then received an email saying that due to an accounting error, their order was canceled, and they would be refunded. Not surprisingly, the money was never refunded.
Scam no6, Scammers in USA called an elderly woman, claiming to be from the IRS and told her she owed 4,000 dollars in taxes. They were very demanding and hostile. The woman, who was not American and spoke English as a second language, became very anxious as they threatened her, saying the police would come and arrest her. They asked her to go to a gas station and buy gift cards. She bought 3000 dollars worth of iTunes cards, 500 dollars worth of Google Play cards, and 500 dollars worth of Steam cards. They then sent her a WhatsApp message asking her to send pictures of the cards, which she did. Later, they asked her for more money and more cards, but she refused and contacted her family.
From these cases we can understand how serious the consequences of online fraud can be for users and unsuspecting citizens. For your protection, it is important to
Never buy gift cards or make payments. Avoid any deal with a stranger who asks for payment via money order, bank transfer, international money transfer, prepaid card, or Bitcoin. It is rare to get money back sent this way.
Additionally, especially when it comes to investment scams, citizens should hang up on callers, do their research, and seek reliable or independent financial or legal advice. 
They should perform a reverse image Google search of the person's profile picture to check for any backdoor manipulation.
In general, you should be careful about how much personal information or personal photos or videos you share on social networking sites. Scammers can use your information and photos to create a fake identity or target you with fraud. Additionally, sensitive and personal photos and videos can be used to blackmail you.
Hellenic Police officers recommend that users be particularly careful and cautious in case they are asked for information. When we give strangers personal information, it is like giving the keys to our house, says an experienced officer. 
This concludes the 4th episode of our Safer Internet podcast series. Stay tuned for the rest of our series. Thank you for listening. Internetic First, the end.


An investigative podcast about digital gaming how it affects our lives

Digital Games

Digital Games
Good evening and welcome to our show. In todays episode, we will discuss one of the most pressing issues in the digital world, online or rather, digital games, videogames. and their significant impact on individuals and the online community as a whole, especially on children and teenagers. Stay with us for an eye-opening discussion on a topic that concerns all of us.

In these days, when technological development has radically changed the environment in which children grow, learn, interact, and define themselves as individuals, digital gaming has become an integral part of the new generations culture. Beyond the rapid evolution of technology and the dominance of visual media, parents growing fear for their childrens safety in the big cities streets and the gradual prevalence of solitary gaming have contributed to their rapid spread.
The main characteristics that make digital games particularly appealing to children are their realism, advanced graphics, and scalable difficulty levels. In addition, the digital game allows players to input data that is managed according to pre-programmed rules, provides one or more players with visual stimuli and information, and enables them to play online with one another while communicating via online messages or calls. Moreover, it modifies players digital information and can be played on consoles connected to a television, PlayStation, Xbox, etc., on a computer, or on portable devices that support digital games, for example mobile phones and tablets.
There are many studies on the possible positive or negative effects of digital games on children, and several of these studies conflict with one another. The positive reviews mainly refer to the development of cognitive skills and the opportunity that games provide for children to cultivate their imagination. In particular, they contribute to the development and improvement of the following.
Concentration of attention
Observational skills
Hand eye coordination
Dexterity
Problem solving ability
Overall increase in knowledge
The negative reviews, on the other hand, point out the risk of increased aggressive behavior due to frequent engagement with games that have aggressive content, the gradual desensitization to violence, and the danger of addiction. Recent studies indicate that
approximately 90 percent of digital games contain some form of violent content.
in at least half of these, the players goal is to cause serious harm and/or the death of the opponent.
53percent of school age children rate games with violent content as more popular.
Other negative critiques relate to the fact that such games contribute to digital bullying, as some children systematically mistreat other children in the games, threatening and verbally abusing them. There are also cases where children are locked out of their accounts, defamed, or have their accounts hacked.
To illustrate the seriousness of the issue, we will read a few cases from the past
Case One
It is very common for children, and especially teenagers, to become addicted to playing online games. The addicted child becomes disorganized on all levels, affecting every area of life for example personal, family, social, educational. On a social level, the addicted child becomes isolated and loses real friends. Educationally, many children experience academic failure: some even drop out of school because of their addiction, and it is characteristic that later on, one in ten students does not continue their studies due to video game addiction. They feel that real life and real friends exist within the game and that the most important thing in life is to win in the game. In extreme cases, there have been reports of children losing many kilograms in a short period due to malnutrition caused by their video game addiction. Recovering from this situation is extremely difficult and can only be achieved with professional help.
Case Two
Another negative aspect related to online games is highlighted in a recent report published by the Norwegian Consumer Council. The report underlines that there have been massive violations of consumer rights and privacy. The violations relate to
First, Lack of security. With simple steps, anyone can take control of the games via a mobile phone. This makes it possible to communicate through the game without having physical access to it.
Second, Illegal terms of use. According to the NCC, there may be breaches of the EU directive on unfair contract terms, the EU directive on data protection, and possibly the directive on game safety.
Third, Sharing of childrens secrets. Many games aimed at small children feature dolls or animals as protagonists that talk to the children. Whatever a child says is passed from the doll to a company based in the USA that specializes in speech recognition technologies. This company reserves the right to share that information with third parties and to use the speech data for a wide variety of purposes.
Finally, Children are subjected to covert marketing. The games have built in, pre-programmed phrases that promote various commercial products.
Case Three
A tragic incident occurred in the Democratic Republic of Bascortostan in Russia when a 17 year-old died after spending 22 days locked in his room playing an online game almost continuously, pausing only to sleep and eat. Researchers stated that the addicted player spent more than 2,000 hours playing the game in the last year and a half. Doctors believe he died from thrombosis due to complete immobility. Another shocking piece of information is that the boy collapsed when his in-game character was killed.
Case Four
A man from Oregon, under the influence of LSD, led the police on a 60 kilometer car chase, believing he was playing Grand Theft Auto. During the chase, the man rammed into fences, drove over barbed wire twice, and sped on the road. When his car crashed, he attempted to ram a police car before falling into a trailer park, where he was arrested while trying to steal another car.
Case Five
A 22 year old Russian blogger was charged with inciting religious hatred after filming himself inside a church and mocking Christianity by comparing Jesus Christ to a pokemon character. The blogger decided to play pokemon Go inside the church because he had seen a news report stating that those who did so could be fined or imprisoned. The man recorded himself trying to catch them all in the church, before leaving and commenting, But, you know, I didnt catch the rarest pokemon you could find there, Jesus.
Case Six
A man from Sydney was accused of assaulting his wife after she asked him to stop playing Fortnite and come eat with the family. To pull her husband out of the game, his wife threw objects, including her shoe. Meanwhile, the man live streamed himself playing Fortnite on Twitch. The live stream captured the sound of the incident, which included screams and the loud sound of a punch. The video went viral. The man later apologized and sought marriage counseling with his wife.
Case Seven
A 45 year old man from New York threatened to shoot an 11 year old boy after losing a Fortnite Battle Royale match. After being defeated by the boy in the game, the man sent threatening text messages and voice messages on the Xbox One to the boy. In his threats, the man said he would go to the boy s house and cause him pain, adding that he would also go to the boy s school. The two knew each other only through the game and had no other relationship outside of it. The man was charged with second degree aggravated harassment and child assault.
Case Eight
The Blue Whale, also known as the Blue Whale Challenge, is a social network phenomenon dating back to 2016 that is reported to exist in many countries. It is a game that is said to consist of a series of challenges assigned to players by the game s administrators over a period of 50 days, initially harmless challenges before introducing elements of self harm and culminating in a final challenge that requires the player to commit suicide. While many experts suggest that the Blue Whale was originally an impressive hoax, they believe it is possible that the phenomenon has led to cases of self harm imitation and copycat groups, leaving vulnerable children at risk of cyberbullying and online shame.
Case Nine
One case of imitation involves Jonathan Galindo, who appears online in the characteristic disguise of Goofi, a well known cartoon character. Accounts under the name Jonathan Galindo approach children either through social media or digital games and ask them to play a horror game. The initial challenges are relatively harmless, for example, wake up in the middle of the night or watch a scary movie, but as the game continues, the challenges become more dangerous, such as urging the players to self harm or stand at the edge of a tall building, with the final task ordering the players to end their own lives.
From these cases, we can perceive how many and how serious the consequences of engaging with digital games can be. In fact, a particular concern is the fact that, according to recent research, increasingly younger children are becoming internet users. The study, conducted by Internet Matters, shows  that six year old children today are as digitally advanced as ten year olds were three years ago. More specifically, the research, carried out among 1,500 parents in the United Kingdom, revealed that 75 percent of six year old children tend to play online games on a tablet or smartphone, while 44 percent of six year olds choose to surf the internet when they go to their bedroom, and 41 percent of these children do so without supervision. In addition, 32 percent of six year old children choose to communicate via online messages, compared to 31 percent of ten year old children who did so in 2013. This is particularly concerning as deception and child abuse are two dangers that increasingly lurk in cyberspace.
To mitigate the possible negative effects, parents can play a protective role.
What can they do?
Inform themselves more about videogames
Supervise the types of games their children choose
Set limits on the time spent playing videogames
At the same time, encourage free, creative play with other peers
Most importantly
They need to be close to their children while they play videogames acting as a filter and discuss with them the content of the games.
If, however, they find that despite their efforts they are struggling to manage the problem of excessive electronic game use, and their child is showing emotional problems, it is best to seek help from a mental health specialist.
Parents should strive to cultivate in their child an unconditional sense of security and stability, which will ultimately overcome the ills of the ceaseless violence that surrounds us.
At this point, the fourth episode of our podcast series on Safe Internet comes to an end. Stay tuned to listen to the rest of the episodes in the series. Thank you for listening.
Internetic First, The End.


An investigative podcast about Fake News in the digital world.

Fake News

FAKE NEWS
Good evening and welcome to our show. Today, we open a discussion on another of the most crucial issues of the digital world and our society in general, fake news. Raising awareness about the problem of fake news is very important, but even more important is the effort to strengthen the critical thinking of citizens, especially young people. The skills of searching, analyzing, evaluating and creating information on the internet can only be developed through digital literacy and, in particular, through systematic literacy in new media that must be systematically integrated mainly at the primary and secondary education levels. Join us for a revealing discussion on a topic that concerns us all.
Fake news is intentionally false or misleading information, circulated through a multitude of, mainly, electronic media, with the aim of influencing public opinion and especially vulnerable and impressionable groups. Fake news has always existed as a traditional tool of propaganda and part of the so called yellow journalism, because, on the one hand, it spreads 6 times faster than regular news and, on the other hand, it has a special response in the public, influencing their opinion. Some examples of fake news are the following.
Case One. No, they didn't tattoo Putin's face on dying patients
According to a fabricated story circulating on the Internet, a facility in Germany tattooed the faces of Russian officials, including Putin, Lavrov, and others, on dying patients as a kind of strange voodoo. This was supposedly happening at a German facility, according to an English-language video, designed to look a lot like a Deutsche Welle report. This story was completely fabricated and the video was fake and created from a collage of many old videos. Authorities at the Dulmen hospital, which appears in the fake video, told DW that it was targeted disinformation. 
Case Two. No, Ukrainian Nazis did not cause riots in Qatar
Photos and videos recently circulated online, showing what they described as Ukrainian Nazis at the World Cup in Qatar. The video even featured the logo and design of the Al Jazeera news agency. It also reported that three drunk Ukrainians were arrested in Doha after displaying Nazi symbols and giving Nazi salutes. Both Al Jazeera, as the alleged producer of the video, and DW's fact checking team proved that the video in question was fake. The presence of Ukrainian men in Qatar was impossible, since men aged 18 to 60 are currently not allowed to leave the country. Moreover, Ukraine had not even qualified for the tournament. The video does not provide details about the alleged arrests and consists entirely of archive footage, with no direct connection to the story being promoted, DW points out.
Case Three. No, the Ghost of Kiev Wasnt a Brilliant Ukrainian Fighter Pilot
After Ukrainians got over the initial shock of the Russian invasion, they sought solace in reports of Ukrainian military successes. Among them were the stories of the so called Ghost of Kiev, a mysterious pilot who supposedly shot down 40 Russian aircraft single handedly. Many media users, including former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, shared videos and photos of the Ghost of Kiev. However, most of them were fake. Eventually, even the Ukrainian Air Force admitted that the Ghost of Kiev was a myth created by Ukrainians, apparently to cheer up their compatriots.
Case Four. Are there aliens after all?
A Mirror article sparked a lot of discussion, claiming that we are just weeks away from confirming the existence of extraterrestrial life. The articles claim that the person in question was a NASA scientist caused some confusion, which was denied by the most official sources. The reason is Simon Holland, a science film director and YouTuber, and not a NASA scientist, as was mentioned in the Mirror article in question, who claims that there are two groups of astronomers rushing to publish their extraterrestrial findings, which are expected to cause an earthquake, according to the publication. We have found a non human extraterrestrial intelligence in our galaxy and humans don t know about it, he said.
Fifth case. Covid 19 vaccines are dangerous and designed to monitor us.
This is the truth. As pointed out by the Director of Research at the Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Head of the Pasteur Vaccine Unit and Member of the National Vaccination Committee, Dr. Dionysis Sgouras, the Covid 19 vaccines are safe because so far, they have been administered in over 10 billion doses, adding that approximately 25 to 30 million vaccinations are given daily, with minimal side effects, which, as has been found, are due in the vast majority to underlying diseases or pre-existing and undiagnosed conditions.
Sixth case. The Apollo 11 moon landing is a NASA lie, as are the other five Apollo moon landings.
This is the truth. According to Dr. Manos Saridakis, principal investigator, radio telescopes on Earth have been observing the signals emitted by the five ALSEP transmitters placed on the Moon since 1977, with the selenographic coordinates and the strength of the emissions agreeing with what was predicted. Satellites like LRO have taken clear photos of the lunar landing site, where one can actually see the lunar landing site, ALSEP, the flag, the footprints of the astronauts, and in fact, the peculiarity of the photo coincides with the photos we have taken of the lunar landing site. Laser beams, emitted from the Earth, are reflected by the mirrors we have left on the Moon and we take them back.
But what are the consequences and risks of spreading fake news online?
The first of the most harmful consequences of fake news is of a legal nature, and has to do with the possible infringements of the rights to information and expression, which are established in the European Convention on Human Rights, and constitutionally guaranteed in Greece. Based on these provisions, every Greek citizen must be able to be informed and express themselves, without restrictions (unless exceptions apply). Prima facie, therefore, the dissemination of such news is constitutionally prohibited in Greece. This prohibition applies to news disseminated by any means, including the internet.
On a more practical level, fake news found in online environments can be harmful, given the way in which it is made known and accessible to the general public. The medium through which this news is transmitted, namely the Internet, helps a) in the ease of its compilation or writing, b) the ease of their transmission (by further sharing or notifying them to more people, through social networking platforms) and c) the difficulty of verifying the source of the news, given the enormous volume of information available on the internet.
The ease with which such news can reach an Internet user, combined with the plethora of information, already available and new, makes its dissemination extremely easy. This ease increases dramatically with the help of social media, offering an extremely effective channel for communicating such news to its final recipient. Because of their ease of creation, they can be extremely convincing and believable. At the same time, these news items are difficult to cross-check and confirm, due to the already large amount of information available on the internet, and the given difficulty of filtering it, by the average online media user.
How to tell if a post is false?
 If the text urges you to reproduce it, this should make you suspicious.
 If it has non functional  active links.
 Excessive titles or titles that are unrelated to the text of the post.
 The more incredible claims there are in a text, the more solid evidence and data should accompany it. 
 If the text is accompanied by photos unrelated to the topic, or if the topic of the post, and the photos that accompany it have poor resolution, it is an indication that something is wrong.
 If the text is a product of automatic translation.
 If there is no author.
 If the text has many spelling errors, this is another indication.
 If instead of a date, the text gives us the time of the story it describes with words, such as yesterday, the day before yesterday, the week before last, etc.
Our brain tries to unite all the information it receives so that the overall structure of its thought makes some sense. Most fake news is designed to fill these gaps in our knowledge. It is easy to understand, does not require much study, and appeals to our emotions, making us believe it. As soon as we see such news, we almost unconsciously share it everywhere. Our need for confirmation is so great that we do not utilize sources. Many times, we don't even read the article, just looking at the title and the photo is enough. This news is now knowledge for us, and we will defend it, because if we reject even the slightest detail, we will spoil the whole beautiful picture we have in our minds.
It is imperative that each of us be informed about the importance of critical thinking and the necessity to cross-check information before spreading it. Fortunately, there are ways to protect against the spread of misinformation. We must check the source of the news, be certain of the credibility of the media outlet, and be suspicious whenever we encounter garish headlines, with many exclamation points or capital letters, that some false news is about to spread.
This concludes episode 6 of our Safer Internet podcast series. Stay tuned for the rest of the series. Thank you for listening. Internetic First, the end.



An investigative podcast about internet addiction, the most prominent problem of our modern, digital era.

Internet Addiction

Internet Addiction
Good evening and welcome to our show. Today, we are opening a discussion on one of the most critical issues in the digital world: internet addiction. This phenomenon can have a significant impact on individuals and the online community as a whole and is undoubtedly one of the biggest problems, if not the biggest, of modern society. Stay with us for a revealing discussion on a topic that concerns us all.
The term internet addiction refers to problematic use of the internet and related technologies, such as email and the World Wide Web. Internet addiction is defined as a compulsive behavior related to online activities, affecting an individual s daily life and causing significant distress in their family, professional, and social environment.
Internet addiction is linked to a person s inability to control their use of the internet, but more importantly, to the way this use interferes with their daily functionality. It can cause them to neglect their responsibilities, whether in their social life, schoolwork, or professional occupation. An addicted person may lie about the time they spend online or deny having a problem. They may become irritable when offline or express anger toward anyone questioning their internet usage.
The Growing Problem Among Youth
In recent years, more and more children and teenagers prefer to stay at home to play online games, which are free but highly addictive, raising concerns among parents, educators, and mental health experts. Even when parents set limits, addiction tends to escalate. According to Dr. Konstantinos Siomos, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and president of the Hellenic Society for the Study of Internet Addiction Disorder, this phenomenon has not yet peaked.
In June 2018, the World Health Organization officially recognized video game addiction as a mental disorder, adding it to its official list of diseases under the name Gaming Disorder.
Signs and Consequences of Internet Addiction
Some key indicators of internet addiction and its psychological and physical consequences include
Prolonged internet use
Decreased academic performance
Preference for online activities over real-life experiences
Increased irritability
Loss of appetite
Increased aggression
Lack of interest in offline activities
Restlessness and anticipation of going online
Feeling bored or empty when not online
Reduced sleep due to excessive internet use
People addicted to the internet may also be prone to other dependencies, such as alcohol or drug abuse. Those with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or social isolation might use the internet as a form of self medication, similar to how some people turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with emotional distress.
Social and Family Factors
Family dynamics can play a role in excessive internet use. For instance, an individual may turn to the internet to escape family conflicts. Additionally, excessive internet use may be driven by social factors, some people lack the social skills to form relationships in real life and rely on online interactions instead. Peer behavior also influences internet use, with interactive features such as chat rooms, email, and online games making internet addiction more likely than solitary web browsing.
Real Life Cases of Internet Addiction
To illustrate the severity of this issue, here are some real-life cases:
Case 1. Teenagers Hospitalized Due to Internet Addiction
In Cyprus, a national study of 3,000 students revealed that around 8 percent of middle and high school students (approximately 250 teens) were addicted to the internet. Some of these students had to be hospitalized for rehabilitation under a court order, and some even dropped out of school.
Case 2. From Sports Star to Internet Addict
In 2010, an American middle school student, once a talented athlete and a popular figure at school, became completely consumed by online gaming. His mother described how gaming took over his life, making him indifferent to the outside world.
Case 3. Fatal Consequences in Thailand
In 2019, a 17 year old boy in Thailand died in front of his computer due to excessive gaming. He played nonstop during school vacations, staying up all night and eating only takeout food. His father found him dead in his room, with doctors attributing his death to a stroke caused by prolonged gaming.
Case 4. Two Years of Isolation in Brazil
A 15 year old in Sao Paulo, Brazil, locked himself in his house for two years, playing online for up to 18 hours a day. He abandoned school and social interactions, becoming aggressive whenever his mother tried to disconnect the internet. He was eventually hospitalized due to his violent behavior and depression.
Case 5. China s Strict Regulations Against Youth Internet Addiction
China has implemented strict laws to combat internet addiction among minors. A new law prohibits internet access for those under 18 between 10.00 PM and 6.00 AM, and limits their online time to two hours for 16 to 17 year olds and just 40 minutes for children under 8.
How Can Addicted Individuals Be Helped
Completely avoiding the internet is an unrealistic expectation, as it is an integral part of modern social, educational, and professional life. However, steps can be taken to help individuals regain control.
In Greece, KETHEA, Center for the Treatment of Addiction and Social Reintegration, offers programs for teenagers and young adults struggling with internet and video game addiction. The goal is to reduce screen time and help young people face life s challenges in a healthy way.
Approaches to Treatment
Moderation, Not Abstinence. Similar to eating disorders, treatment focuses on developing a balanced relationship with the internet rather than total avoidance.
Addressing Underlying Psychological Issues. Internet addiction is often linked to social anxiety, mood disorders, family problems, work stress, or childhood trauma. Addressing these issues is crucial in treatment.
Support Groups and 12 Step Programs. These are widely used for various addictions, like drugs, alcohol, overeating, and provide a supportive environment for recovery.
Medication. If there is a biological component to the addiction, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication may help.
Psychotherapy. Therapy can help individuals recognize the thoughts and emotions driving their addiction and develop healthier social and communication skills.
People with internet addiction often face interpersonal difficulties, some are introverted, lack social support, or replace real life relationships with virtual ones. Others may have lost significant personal relationships due to their addiction, such as a partner, a parent, or a close friend.
Therapy will also help the individual organize and regulate the time they spend online and develop alternative activities that will distract them from the computer, such as hobbies, exercise, and activities with family and friends. Relapse into an addictive behavior is common, so part of the therapy includes preparing for such a possibility. It is important for the individual to identify situations that may trigger excessive internet use and develop strategies to cope with such situations. Additionally, a change in environment will contribute to altering the associations the individual has made with internet use. Couples therapy and family therapy can be helpful if the user turns to the internet as a way to escape problems with their partner and family, or if their dependence has disrupted their marital and family life.
At this point, the seventh episode of our podcast series on Safer Internet has come to an end. Stay tuned to listen to the remaining episodes of the series. Thank you for listening. Internetic First, The End.


A series of investigative podcasts, created by the students of the 6th class of the 1st Primary School of Greece about Safer Internet on the theme: "Social Networks"

InterNetting First of Vyronas/

The new information system of the European School Radio was developed in the framework of the European program

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