A new epidemic has hit America and is spreading like wildfire across states as more and more people fall victim to its claws. That epidemic is known as Internet addiction which many of today's youth are prone to due to the widespread use of technology. Excessive use of the Internet has proven to be dangerous for the generation because it decreases cognitive abilities, impairs social development and increases health problems. Since today's American society relies heavily on technology and web searches via Google, the Internet has become an essential and necessary element and makes addiction almost inevitable. Those born into this digital addiction are at high risk of cognitive impairment. Nicholas Carr, the author of the article, Does the Internet make you dumber? published in the Wall Street Journal, writes that those who spend more time on the internet than those who understand less and are less focused, appear very distracted and struggle to concentrate on trivial problems. This phenomenon is caused by the information overload that the Internet presents and causes users to become distracted instead of staying focused (Nicholas Carr). An experiment was conducted at the Communication Between Humans and InteractiveMedia Lab at Stanford University, where a group of researchers subjected 49 people who were media multitaskers and 53 people who were media multitaskers to multiple cognitive tests. The results were shocking. The 49 heavy multitaskers performed poorly on every test administered and were found to not even be able to multitask (Nicholas Carr). Carr states that the Internet allows the ability to work on more than one project to another through rapid movements of a click of the finger... to the center of the paper... mental functioning of the brain and the person. Lack of sleep can make the individual susceptible to diseases and infections because the immune system is lowered (health problems). In conclusion, the Internet is dangerous for growing youth because it can cause lasting cognitive, social, and physical problems. Works Cited Alex. The 4 main health problems caused by computer use. March 31, 2008. September 11, 2011.web.Barbara Jamison. Obsessive internet use carries the risk of isolation and depression, researchers say. June 13, 2000. August 13, 2011.webFamily problems. August 23, 2011 .web.Health problems. August 23, 2011.webNicholas Carr. Does the Internet make you stupider? June 5, 2011. September 11, 2011.web.Social problems. August 23, 2011.web.Steven Reinberg. American kids who use the media for almost 8 hours a day. January 20, 2010. September 20 2011