Does Internet and computer ‘addiction’ exist? Some case study evidence
Abstract
It has been alleged that social pathologies are beginning to surface in cyberspace (i.e., technological addictions). To date, there is very little empirical evidence that computing activities (i.e., internet use, hacking, programming) are addictive. Anecdotal evidence indicates that the typical "addict" is a teenager, usually male, with little or no social life, and little or no self-confidence. This article concentrates on five case studies of excessive computer usage. It is argued that of the five cases, only two of them describe "addicted" subjects. Addiction components criteria were used in the assessment. The excessive usage in the majority of cases was purely symptomatic and was highlighted how the subjects used the Internet/computer to counteract other deficiencies.
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Problematic cell-phone use includes problematic and conscious use in dangerous situations or prohibited contexts, with social and familial conflicts and confrontations, and loss of interest in other activities.
“Problematic and conscious use in dangerous situations or prohibited contexts (45) with social and familial conflicts and confrontations, as well as loss of interest in other activities (46–49).”
From Cell-phone addiction: a review (2016) · cites this paper as [47]
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- Authors
- Griffiths, M.
- Affiliations
- Nottingham Trent University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Griffiths, Mark
- ORCID
- Griffiths, Mark
- Venue
- CyberPsychology & Behavior
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2000-04
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 211-218
- ISSN
- 1094-9313 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-8364
- OpenAlex
- W2070077008
- Cited by
- 906
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 57 · 2019: 63 · 2018: 52 · 2017: 44 · 2016: 50 · 2015: 61 · 2014: 61 · 2013: 51 · 2012: 51
- FWCI
- 41.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- CyberPsychology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
- Nottingham Trent University's Institutional Repository (Nottingham Trent Repository) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Technology in Education
- Keywords
- internet addiction, hacking, programming, case studies, adolescents, social pathology, compensatory behavior
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