Conclusion

Needless to say, after ‘quitting’ IRC my self – esteem and self-reflection problems slowly vanished. My online social life became my offline social life and I felt comfortable discussing issues with complete strangers, confident when dancing at a nightclub, and the reality that good judgement is not based on appearance. Prior to my experience online, I lived within my room, within my culture, school and neighbourhood, unexposed to difference. Through IRC I realised the value of friendship, openness and communication; as well, that I preferred those offline and not online. In the complete cycle of addiction, Sherry Turkle explains compulsive computing, in the end, is a result of a second chance. “Engagement with computational technology facilitates a series of ‘second chances’ for adults to work and rework unresolved personal issues and more generally,” she adds, “ to think through questions about the nature of self, including questions about definitions of life, intentionality, and intelligence.” (“Constructions & Deconstructions”,1)