Why ICSAO?
We created ICSAO to facilitate understanding of the growing digital world in our society. The internet has become an "unlimited" tool of communication, research, information, creativity and entertainment, taking on a new role in our lives, our work, and our families. It is a complex and extensive "universe" that offers a widening scope of access, and many new opportunities for discovery: an adventure which is not without danger.
Like any great innovation we need to get to know the limits in order to use it to our best advantage.
This new online world is not without risk, as is the case with the everyday world...
How can we recognize and avoid pitfalls in this digital world?
Internet Addiction is a form of addiction that is behavioral, and in which the traditional “substance” is absent. This form of addiction includes not only misuse or addiction to the Internet itself, but also enables other addictive behaviors which can have harmful consequences (sex, compulsive shopping, games, chat ...).
Problematic use of the Internet is defined by: the presence of an emotional attachment; the need to spend long periods of time online; difficulties with time management resulting in academic problems, and/or professional and family troubles; cravings when screen time, or time online is reduced; feelings of guilt in relation to the amount of time spent online; as well as mood swings while connected ...
ICSAO proposes to respond to concerns and questions that many of us face by:
- Making available on the ICSAO website the studies, analysis, and publications ... conducted by researchers worldwide on various forms of addiction.
- Training for health professionals to provide them with therapeutic tools that better meet the needs (both face to face, or from a distance) of people facing this type of addiction.
- Lectures by experts in the field of cyber-addiction.
- A directory of professionals working with cyber-addiction, open to the public.
- Open House: "Mornings" one Saturday a month to Listen, Share, Show, Explain and Discuss the complexity and impact of the Digital World.
We would like ICSAO to be a meeting point, and a forum, where all paths converge and enable us to see the best path, one free of obstacles.
Happy surfing
Your ICSAO team