Most students who use the Internet know of Facebook as a way to stay in touch with friends and waste time in between classes and homework — and even during classes and homework.

Facebook is not the only Web site students use to procrastinate. It is part of a long list, including YouTube, Twitter, Digg, CollegeHumor, StumbleUpon and Kongregate.

“If [Internet usage] is interfering with the priorities that a student has for their academics or position that they hold on campus, then I think it’s too much,” Ashley Brisco, an academic adviser in Harpur Advising at Binghamton University, said.

Brisco has seen many cases of students suffering due to procrastination.

“For example, we’ll have deadlines for different forms to be handed in, and students will come in just a few minutes before that paper or petition is due and expect to have everything all settled, and unfortunately that is difficult for us because, for the matter of timeliness, we’d like to have students come in earlier, and there’s a better chance of their approval,” Brisco said.

Procrastination can also cause long-term problems.

“[Procrastination] might affect the quality of someone’s work, and then if the student has a prerequisite course and they had procrastinated and not done all the work, in the follow-up course they might have difficulties,” Brisco said.

Brisco suggested that any students who are having serious problems with procrastination should visit the University Counseling Center, where there are a number of brochures regarding issues ranging from time management to study techniques.

Harpur College Academic Advising is also willing to help students in need, Brisco added.

BU students have their own explanations and anecdotes regarding the Internet and its use in procrastination.

“My roommate spends 75 percent of his study time watching YouTube videos,” David Chen, a freshman majoring in computer science, said. “Just about everyone I know procrastinates on the Internet.”

Richard Kang, a freshman majoring in engineering, explained that his procrastination is due to a desire to reward himself for his hard work.

“Usually when I’m assigned homework, there will be multiple questions,” he said. “After one question I’m inclined to reward myself, so I’ll go to YouTube or Facebook — so that’s it, it fuels my procrastination. It makes my homework take 10 times longer.”

Adrienne Victor, a sophomore majoring in English, said that Facebook and WebMail are by far the Web sites she frequents the most.

“I would say I use them at least two to three times a day,” Victor said. “Facebook is probably the one that causes the most procrastination. On Facebook I read people’s statuses, and they’ll always say that they’re procrastinating. People have all these papers to write, but they go on Facebook instead.”

When students have trouble with Internet-based procrastination, Victor suggests that they turn off the computer.

“If you’re doing something that is not related to your computer, turn the computer off completely,” she said. “If you are doing something on your computer, I would keep only the windows open that you absolutely need. If you don’t need to have your Facebook open, don’t have it open. If you don’t need the Internet open, don’t keep it open.”