Internet Addiction

Internet addiction, an outgrowth of the staggering rise in Internet use across all demographics, is [Page 445]broadly defined as obsessive online behaviors that affect one’s daily life creating extreme stress on familial relationships, friendships, and workplace discord. As Internet usage increases and becomes routinely integral to daily life, worldwide concerns regarding both the short-term and the long-term social, emotional, and physical impact on human well-being have grown. More time spent online reduces the time spent on other, more potentially beneficial activities, such as interacting with family and friends, completing academic work, and developing off-line connections and personal relationships. Concerns also include the effect on physical health: Internet addiction disorder (IAD) has been linked to carpal tunnel syndrome, dry eyes, eyestrain, migraine headaches, back problems, eating ...