Entangled in the Web: Unexpected Events with New Technologies—Safety Issues, Addiction, and Consequences on Communication

This chapter takes a step back to look at the landscape from which the phenomenon of telepsychiatry emerges—the Internet. Having become one of the most powerful instruments in the hands of the human race in recent decades, it is now a necessary tool in fulfilling vital elements of our daily tasks. On the one hand, the following advantages of the use of the Internet are discussed: revolutionary increase in opportunities to disseminate, share, obtain, accumulate, and store information and interpersonal contacts. On the other hand, the major disadvantages of the use of the Internet, including deception (scams and cybercrimes), hate, violence, bizarre conspiracy theories, so-called fake news, manipulation of public opinion, and the phenomenon of socially accepted and expected compromise of privacy to the point of exhibitionism, are discussed. In addition, the physiological and psychological negative side effects of abuse of the Internet, including atrophy of certain brain activities, submissiveness toward “tyranny of tiny tasks,” and a gradual decrease in face-to-face interpersonal communication, which is being replaced by virtual anonymity, are debated. These deleterious effects, as well as Internet addiction, can be treated by telepsychiatry, ironically itself impossible without the Internet. The dangers of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality are also pointed out.