My computer gave me a mental disorder: Stories about the Web, its effects, Internet addiction, and DSM-V

Ever since stories have been told, people have told them about technology. These narratives of technology represent one way new innovations such as the Internet get positioned and become understood in culture and society. In the case of Internet technology, both utopian and dystopian narratives have developed regarding its effects on society, culture, and the human brain. Some storytellers claim the Internet causes both changes in the brain and addiction, while others say this technology is simply the newest iteration in a long line of communication advancements. The process of finalizing the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) resulted in several narratives from prominent psychiatrists. Some of these psychiatrists called for the inclusion of a proposed Internet Addiction Disorder in the newest version of the DSM, while others sought to see the new disorder kept out. These narratives of legitimacy through inclusion or exclusion in the DSM provide a clear-cut example of how competing narratives come to define how society and culture understand the effects of new technology.