When midterms rolled around, Harrah Friedlander asked a friend to alter her Facebook password so she would be able to concentrate on studying.

I just feel like I get on Facebook any time I get online, the message sophomore said. It's just time suck for me.

Medill Prof. Rachel Davis Mersey, who teaches Introduction to 21st Century Media, said students expend more time in front of the computer screen than they realize.

There's data to suggest that people use more time interacting with media than there are hours in the day, she said. They are intense multiple media at one time so the number is closer to 34 hours a day as opposed to 24 hours a day. I would suppose a student at Northwestern is on the Internet eight hours a day at least.

Video game fan Steven Nguyen estimates he spends two to three hours playing online games in addition to the five hours he spend browsing the Web.

Although the Internet doesn't negatively to affect his life, Nguyen said he does try to limit his recreational computer use when midterms come around. Extensive time online has affected his studies, whether he's playing video games or succumb to the enticement.