Web Junkie

Does the time and energy devoted to online gaming represent a clinical disorder? And, if so, what sort of treatment might be appropriate? These are questions raised by Web Junkie, an intriguing documentary by filmmakers Hilla Medalia and Shosh Shlam, who were allowed access to a rehabilitation center in Beijing for those—mostly teen males—diagnosed with what the Chinese government has officially declared to be “Internet addiction.” Most have been tricked—in some cases virtually kidnapped—by their parents and checked into the facility, where the staff subject them to what amounts to military discipline as well as stern lectures and sit-down sessions intended to bridge the gap with their moms and dads. On one occasion, the ringleader of an escape that leads to a night at an Internet café before the group's recapture is sentenced to a stint in solitary confinement, which seems to have a beneficial effect. But as Web Junkie illustrates in scenes featuring the youngsters talking among themselves, they don't actually think there's anything wrong with preferring the online world of games to the reality of lives they consider dull, and admit that they often simply tell the doctors what they want to hear in order to get back to the virtual excitement of gaming. Offering a snapshot of the difficulty—and perhaps futility—of any attempt to deal with this issue using traditional methods of deprogramming, this often fascinating, thought-provoking documentary is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)