No civilisation until now has ever tampered with the cradle. Ours has. Over half of all people spend their free time in the virtual world, and it is a civilisational problem. There is a spreading pattern (among adults and young people alike) of looking to the virtual world for answers to our problems. The very things we lack in the real world, we seek in the virtual world. And many people today share the view that the virtual is more real than reality.
Young people addicted to new technology often react violently when they are forced to switch from the virtual to the real. Anyone pulling an addict from the virtual to the real will experience severe resistance. The Addiction Treatment Centre in Nova Gorica records three violent people in every 100 drug addicts. It is surprising to learn that out of 100 non-chemical addicts, 37 are violent. They record physical, psychological and economic violence.
Parents report that even children as young as five years old lose control of their behaviour when games, cartoons, etc. are restricted. The subliminal messages found in reality shows, music and games lead to a crash in self-esteem and self-image. Subliminal messages often set the criteria for physical appearance (size of breasts, buttocks, lips, etc.) and affect lifestyles. Most of the time, these criteria are unattainable. How to have the most beautiful face and body? Following these artificial needs and criteria causes severe distress. Too often these distresses manifest as self-harm, eating disorders, violence, etc.
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