ˋ°•*⁀➷ Personal Introduction 𖹭.ᐟ

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Photo by Kunika Khuble

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚────୨ৎ────*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

 My name is Sophie Congreso, and I am currently a Grade 11 student at Ateneo De Davao University, under the section — Maunoir. I’ve experienced internet addiction, personally way back year 2019-2022, staying in my room everyday to play games, watch anime and kdrama, and also chatting with my internet friends. I realized that it affects my own well-being and my daily life. So I’ve changed my habits by reading books, bonding more with my family, and playing my sport rather than staying all day in a room that affects my health. Internet addiction is when you use your gadgets too much or everyday and you feel like you can’t keep going in your life when you are not using your phone. Many kids become more addicted nowadays because of games and watching youtube all day. This addiction affects in our daily lives and it also harms our mental health especially into our eyes by screening too much. If you want to make yourself more better — you need to start the change within yourself. I believe that this issue is a big concern in our world. I think the parents should reprimand their kids or scold them. Start to change if it is bad for you. I hope that a lot of individuals will realized that phone is not our life and there’s much a bigger world to explore more.

By: ⋆˚࿔ Congreso, Sophie Erich Vianne 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

My name is Nigella Rose T. Castillon, a member of Group 7 from Grade 11- Maunoir, a student at Ateneo de Davao Senior High School. Having experienced a shared struggle on what internet addiction really does to me especially as I continue to grow up had made me realize how much it had already controlled me. With my addiction, I used to spend most of my entire day gaming, scrolling on social media or binge-watch anime had really led me to develop a late sleeping habit and an unhealthy daily routine. This eventually made me realized the negative impact it had on my health and lifestyle and with this I decided I would change for the betterment and improvement of myself to change my bad habits to better ones, like changing my sleeping schedule, exercising more and maintain these better habits. Having experienced this, it made me concerned about how often people get this issue. This especially to us, young people now in our modern generation where online entertainment is accessible made me scared. Having this would have lead to poor management and even mental and physical health problems if left unchecked. I believe that while the internet offers many benefits, discipline is the key to preventing it from taking control over all of our lives. My experience should remind all of us that change really is possible if we take on responsibility for our actions. With self-control and with a clear goal we can then build habits that could improve our well-being instead of harming ourselves.

By: ⋆˚࿔ Castillon, Nigella Rose 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

My name is Allysa Mae G. Delos Santos, and I am currently a grade 11 student at Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School. Having experienced internet addiction first hand, mostly during the pandemic, I realized just how impactful this social issue can be. Not only did it affect me, but also those around me, slowly swallowing me whole as a person. Despite it all, I managed to learn how to properly utilize my time, while still making sure I have time in and out of my internet life. An issue that still continues to concern me is how internet addiction affect ones character and perspective in life. Not only that, but some people can get caved and trapped in such a life style that they cannot grow as a person. While the internet is needed and serves purpose, it can also affect ones life if used without limitations. I believe this is a conversation we need to keep having. I believe that we should let more people be aware of such downsides internet addiction can cause, especially for the youth. I hope to keep learning about the effects of internet addiction, in order to spread more awareness to the people. I hope that with more knowledge and awareness, comes change and improvement.

By: ⋆˚࿔ Delos Santos, Allysa Mae 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

My name is Theara M. Guadalquiver, and I am currently a grade 11 student at the Ateneo De Davao University Senior High School. In my experiences, the internet has become an essential tool that helped me a lot with my academic works like researching and studying. The internet for me is an essential tool which is that I can easily and readily access variety of informations online. I realize that since I am shifting to a learning environment where technology is integrated, students like me can take the opportunity to make use of the informations in academic and non academic works. One issue that continues to concern me is the negative use of the online gadgets as well as the excessive screening time spend on gadgets which can severely impact the healthy lifestyle of students like me. The negative online use of gadgets particularly the internet can impact the health of the students developing mental and physical health conditions.

By: ⋆˚࿔ Guadalquiver, Theara 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

My name is Innoui Gabrielle Pamat, and I am currently a Grade 11 student at Ateneo De Davao Senior High School. I had a friend from Junior High School who always sleeps in our class every day. I was worried and confused so I approached him and asked, turns out he has been playing games all night long. He chuckles as he tells me why, so that explains his lack of adequate sleep and reflects how he does not give a single care to the matter. It concerns me how he doesn't have a sense of urgency to the fact that what he's doing is harmful for him mentally and physically. Internet can really affect someone negatively in terms of the influence to addiction such as their behavior, personality, and attitude. Whenever I think of internet addiction I always think that their parents are chronically absent to supervise their kids in order to properly utilize the internet. That's why even though it proposes a lot of benefits, all users of internet—kid or adult should have proper discipline on how to utilize the internet in moderation. After that experience with my friend, I now understand how to maintain my screen time on the usage of any applications in my phone. I also gain awareness and will teach my siblings and friends how to use the internet for everyone's well-being

By: ⋆˚࿔ Pamat, Innoui Gabrielle 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

Interview Report ♡ ˎˊ˗

Photo by Camille Harris

  Have you ever known someone who is addicted to the internet? This is a question that we are eager to know, that’s why we interviewed someone who experienced this type of social issue. We interviewed Jude Francis Adan, a student from Grade 11 - Garnet at Ateneo De Davao University Senior High School. According to him, he became addicted to the internet, spending most of his day gaming and binge-watching series. This, in fact, led him to develop late sleeping habits and an overall unhealthy routine. As time passed, he decided to change and started sleeping early, exercising regularly, and building healthier routines. Through discipline, he took care of himself and applied changes. He stated “I believe internet addition is very common in todays generation, especially among kids that can either influence them positively or negatively.” He believed that this is a topic worth addressing. We realized that internet addiction is a real and common struggle in our generation but with discipline and the right mindset, it can be overcome. His story reminded us that we can take control of our time and choose healthier habits. We conclude that internet addiction should be handled properly and not let it control us.

⊹₊Opinion Essay₊⊹

Image by Hayley Tsukayama

         Many young people today spend hours on the internet without realizing how it affects their health and daily routines. While the internet has a lot of benefits in terms of education and work, however it also has cons such as destroying the well-being of an individual. That’s why we believe that internet addiction is a serious problem that needs attention, especially the youth. 

         One reason that we believe internet addiction is a serious problem is because we have seen how it can lead to unhealthy habits and negligence of one’s own responsibilities. Particularly, a member of our group shared that she used to spend most of her day sleeping late and playing online games. Another reason is how internet addiction can affect someone’s mindset and behavior, if not guided on how to properly utilize the internet in moderation.

       To conclude, internet addiction is very rampant in today's generation affecting not only the youths but also the adults. That’s why this social issue should be addressed more to spread awareness in order to lessen the negative impact it causes. As much as how the internet addiction continues to evolve in today’s society, individuals should be responsible in using the internet for the betterment and welfare of all.

✎ Personal Journal *ੈ✩‧₊˚

  August 20, 2025 / 12:39 pm ────୨ৎ────

        As I write this journal, I feel thoughtful and sad, as internet addiction is a serious problem that affects many people, including me and that it’s also relevant in today’s generation. When I realized that I also experienced internet addiction. I felt frustrated with myself. Again, this issue is very relevant because we are in this era where technology is everywhere and writing about this helped me remember on those moments when I would always say “I’ll stop after this” but still continue scrolling on social media for hours. It made me feel weak that I couldn’t control my own habits, and I also felt anxious whenever I’m not connected to the internet like I couldn’t sit still and that made me feel like I’m trapped — the internet is controlling me instead of me controlling it. Internet became my escape when I need someone to distract me into something or when I’m alone and internet also has benefits in terms of school, work, and entertainment. Through this reflection, I’ve learned that I need to work out myself in terms of discipline and self control, and I should also share this to my little brother, and he would become more aware about this issue, so he’s not going to be like me. Hopefully that this won’t happen again to me and to the people who experienced this, and to the next generation. That this issue won’t happen again and repeat itself. 

By: Congreso, Sophie Erich Vianne C. ⋆˚✿˖°

August 20, 2025 / 12:39pm ────୨ৎ────

        Recently, I have come to realize myself thinking about how serious internet addiction really is to affect many people, including me and my generation today. The internet today is something, I, myself is drawn to and have noticed how dependent I am to it. Just by this the internet has become such a big influence on my life that it sometimes feel impossible to put my phone down or stop watching videos late at night. I realized that I usually use my phone too much that not only affected my sleep but also my focus at school and my mood during the day. I felt that now, it's so easy to get lost online because everything is entertainment around us but I know that in the long run it can slowly become unhealthy and serious. I believe the real challenge is not avoiding the internet but learning how to control and limit its waged. Next time, I will become more mindful of how much time I spend online and to balance it better to become more healthier. If I practice more discipline, I know I can create better habits that would improve my routine, spend more time with the people around and better my overall well-being.

By: Castillon, Nigella Rose T. ⋆˚✿˖°

Aug. 20, 2025 / 12:40 PM ────୨ৎ────

        Today, I feel sad and concerned as internet addiction is a serious topic that affects many people, especially the youth. Writing about such a topic made me realize that so many people really get swallowed and be isolated without proper guidance from peers and parents. It made me realize that there are so many ways to avoid such an issue if people would make themselves educated about its negative effects. With this, I’ve learned to spread the word and help other people be more aware, and to not let them be trapped in such a predicament. Next time, I want to be more knowledgeable and analytical in my writing. I want to present more ideas and solutions for when it comes to difficult and important topics.

By: Delos Santos, Allysa Mae G ⋆˚✿˖°

August 20, 2025 / 12:40 PM ────୨ৎ────

      I personally feel a change within myself as I gradually became internet addicted. I feel like I easily get distracted from doing my academic and non academic tasks. I also tend to procrastinate a lot by playing internet games and binge-watching movies on my phone. Throughout my experiences, I realized that I spend more time on my phone and the more I do it regularly, the more I become less active in doing my tasks. My sleeping habits had change from sleeping late to waking up late. I tried to practice using the internet in moderation but I was having a difficult time resisting in the process. Next time, I want to begin improving myself more to become the better version of myself. In doing so, I have to put an effort by changing my personal habits.

By: Guadalquiver, Theara M. ⋆˚✿˖°

August 20, 2025 / 12:40 PM ────୨ৎ────

       I have notice, these past few weeks leading today, have been always the same mundane and unproductive afternoon, like words filled with empty promises. The heavy feeling of uncertainty, thinking of myself finally ticking off the boxes of my to-do lists or am I perhaps gonna let the internet consume me? I feel as though internet addiction is not just a social issue I observe in society—it is something that I wrestle with every day. Reflecting on internet addiction, reminds me of when my teacher in Theology said “ self-discipline is so hard.” To think that not only us young teenagers struggle with influences, from such as the internet, so does the adults too. Internet does not pick any age, it is us who chooses it, us who let it take over our days and be in charged of what we do and what we don't, affecting our personal lives — mentally & physically, and academic life — my grades, my consistency, and my hope, making it hard to juggle everything and falling apart. For tomorrow, I am filled with hope and a new found dedication to seize the day for the many opportunities that it brings, not letting the internet to harm my mindset but instead be part of the many useful moments I can make with the proper use of it. And with all of these reflections I hope I can educate my friends, peers, and family to be good with the internet, and foster self-awareness with ones limitations in utilization. 

By: Pamat, Innoui Gabrielle ⋆˚✿˖°

Closing Message °⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

We hope this has helped you gain new insights and reflect on how the internet influences our daily lives. Let this be a reminder to practice balance and mindful use, making technology a tool that serves you—not the other way around.

Remember the change starts with you!