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The internet is causing people's immune systems to decline
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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At the University of Milan and Swansea University, specialists conducted a joint study, during which it was established that time spent on the Internet affects the human immune system; the more a person spends online, the more susceptible he is to colds and infectious diseases.
The specialists selected volunteers to participate in the experiment from different age categories (from 18 to 90 years old) so that the results would be as reliable as possible; in addition, the specialists equalized the number of men and women among the participants in the experiment.
As a result of the observation, the scientists made very specific conclusions. First of all, "sitting" on the Internet becomes a habit and can develop into a serious addiction (the scientists noted that this can be compared to an addiction to alcohol or drugs).
Internet addicts experience changes in their emotional and hormonal background. Cortisol, known as the stress hormone, affects human behavior and influences a person’s desire to eliminate a stressful situation. In the case of Internet addicts, stress is caused by going offline or not being able to be “online.” In addition, cortisol reduces the body’s ability to fight bacteria and viruses several times over.
In terms of behavioral characteristics, people who are addicted to the global network tend to work remotely over the Internet, prefer to spend a lot of time alone, have little contact with others “in person,” and this behavior leads to weak resistance to the usual bacterial environment that is observed in typical working conditions.
Time spent outdoors and physical activity also matter, as they increase the body's resistance. As a result of such observations, scientists have come to an unambiguous conclusion: Internet addiction reduces the functioning of the immune system and causes increased mental stress.
Most of the participants in the experiment "sat" online for about 6 hours a day, some spent "online" - more than 10 hours. Most often, people spent time on social networks, played games, searched for goods in online stores. As observations showed, men more often played online games and watched pornography, and women spent time on social networks or shopping.
It is worth noting that the WHO will include Internet addiction in the list of mental disorders in ICD 11.
WHO specialists are currently working on a new version of the International Classification of Diseases, and Internet addiction and selfies may appear in the mental disorders section. After the new classification is studied by specialists from different countries, it will be finally approved.
Currently, psychologists treat addiction to the global network. If this condition is equated to a disease, then Internet addicts will be treated with medication and psychotherapy. Patients will receive psychotropic drugs that reduce obsessive thoughts, and a person will be able to think about other things besides the Internet or selfies. By the way, doctors are already expressing their concern about the fact that recently there have been more and more accidents when trying to take a unique selfie.
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