Internet Addiction: Downloading X Streaming

Downloading and Streaming has been the two most active activities in the Internet. There has never been a time where the Internet stops sending files from one computer to another. In this article, I will discuss the addiction that can arise from these two activities as well as their causes. To start the topic, let’s begin with downloading addiction.

It has been a problem of various individuals to break free from the addictive feeling of ‘Downloading’. Their download queue ranges from Music, Movies, Anime, Games and Software. Downloading is not something that is completely illegal instead it is something that helps us in our work. However, the problem starts when the person in question abuses the power of downloading.

So what is downloading? Download is defined as the transfer of data from a distant computer to your computer. It is mostly used for obtaining various Media Files and software from the internet. There are 2 widely used methods of downloading namely: Direct Download (DDL) and Torrent. Direct Download, as the name suggests, the computer connects to the host (usually a server) directly in order to obtain the file. Torrent, however, is the most favored method because of its peer-to-peer technology.

So what makes it addicting? Since most downloadable files are free of charge (especially via torrent), people tend to download files (mostly media files i.e.: Music and Video) excessively instead of buying it from the store. Furthermore, most of these files are licensed by different industries thus free distribution and downloading is an act of Piracy. However, there are still unlicensed media available for download (i.e.: Anime). Again, people download these files excessively and breaking their “ISP Cap” thus causing problems to their Internet Service Provider (ISP) as well to the other subscribers of the same ISP. Today, some ISPs changed their billing methods just to cover their unnecessary expenses because of these Downloading Addicts. Another