Let's take a look at what Jerald Block said. He identifies three "subtypes" of internet addiction: excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations, and e-mail/text messaging (not strictly internet, I know).
Want to know if you're addicted? He provides these four criteria:
1. Excessive use, often associated with a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic drives
2. Withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension, and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible
3. Tolerance, including the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use
4. Negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue
Ignoring the sex and gaming addicts, aren't rather a lot of people email/text messaging addicts according to this scheme?
Modern life revolves around the two - and increasing around online social networking as well. We use at all times of the day (excessive use), get stressed when a low battery stops us messaging (withdrawal), constantly buy new devices (tolerance) and would probably get more done if we showed more restraint (negative repercussions).
Those communication methods are becoming ever more central to everyday life - part of nearly every social, commercial and business transaction. Is society driving us all into addiction, or have the doctors got ahead of themselves and medicalised social and technological trends?
I'm no psychologist. But I do not think there is anything inherently dangerous or addictive about internet technologies and applications. The reported increases in addiction are still preliminary results, and likely mostly an effect of growing medical attention to the "problem".
Some people certainly will suffer genuine problems with addiction to online activities. But surely those that do are susceptible to such problems, even in the web's absence? I struggle to believe that the web could shove lots of otherwise healthy people over that particular edge.
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