INTERNET ADDICTION – WHAT HAVE WE DISCOVERED SO FAR?
INTERNET ADDICTION – WHAT HAVE WE DISCOVERED SO FAR?

Summary/Abstract: The need for a recognition of Internet addiction as an actual disorder is present among practicing clinicians and psychologists, so it can be included in and covered by health care insurance. Internet addiction is usually defined as an overuse of Internet content to the point that it impairs one’s work productivity, social life, or health. In its core mechanism, it is similar to physiological addiction, but the manifesting behaviors are different. Internet addiction is manifested in the form of an overwhelming urge to spend one’s precious time on consuming content given on the Internet to earn gratification and lessen stress and anxiety. People can be addicted to various types of content such as social media, gaming, online gambling, online shopping, and cybersex which is usually connected with the use of pornography. However, the invention of smartphones, wireless internet connection, and their popularity blurred the line between addiction and socially acceptable behavior. This is especially dangerous when it comes to children and teenagers because their brains are not fully developed and the society is not aware of what it is doing to their offspring. This paper will present the theoretical and empirical data on symptoms and types of Internet addiction, mechanisms behind it, its impact on one’s life and society, and lastly its treatment.

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