Is Internet Addiction a Real Problem?

"Studies pointing out the dangers of our technology-enabled lifestyles are nothing new. Topics such the possibility of getting brain tumors from our cell phones and the danger of video game violence translating into real-world violence frequently pop up on the front pages of newspapers and web sites (including this one) around the world."

As the article suggests, there are several different addictions that could use the Internet as a conduit (cybersex, cyber relationships, etc.) but there are also addictions that, without the Internet, would not manifest themselves to such a degree and this is what should be meant by Internet addiction.

I'm a techie geek for fun and profit and most of my friends are too. I can get up in a morning, check email, check my Bit-Torrent downloads, update my podcasts in iTunes, and THEN go for a shower, have breakfast, etc. At work I avoid using the web for personal things, but do use IM occasionally. During work I'm online all the time, with a job as part of a global team that transfers work around using email and IM. In an evening I come home, catch up with personal email, IM friends, read news sites and blogs, watch videos and vidcasts, blog, do research on stuff for fun and education, listen to podcasts, ... the list goes on. It's not unusual for me to sit in front of a computer for 12 hours a day and going to bed after midnight is not out of the ordinary. My girlfriend would say I'm addicted but like any addict, I don't want to admit there's a problem. ;) I've cut down in the last few years too, withdrawing myself from the online communities I once was a part of and following fewer blogs and news sites. RSS has been a mixed blessing, as I've been able to catch up on things quicker only to find my reading list has grown to fill the time available.

In the test linked from the article I score 57:
50 -79 points: You are experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of the Internet. You should consider their full impact on your life.

I do find it somewhat ironic that the counseling offered from that site involves joining a chat-room to talk. :)

Am I an addict? Are you?

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