In a pilot study, which involved more than 600 adolescent participants aged 14-19 years (secondary school, college and university students), the authors have defined internet addiction as a Resources. 5 For some people, high rates of SNS use can lead to compulsive behaviours with symptoms similar to addictions when SNS use is restricted or stopped. The practice continues even after they realize its harms, yet are unable to quit. Prognosis. CONCLUDING REMARKS The labels “Internet Addiction,” “Internet Addiction Disorder,” “Pathological Internet Use,” “Problematic Internet Use,” “Excessive Internet Use,” and “Compulsive Internet Use” have all been used to describe more or less the same concept, that is, that an individual could be so involved in their online use as to neglect other areas of their life. More research needs to be conducted to know the primary causes of internet addiction. The Internet itself is a neutral device originally designed to facilitate research among academic and military agencies. Intense urges and an abnormal fetish for the online activities are its hallmarks. In fact, the compulsive use continues to the degree that leads to marked distress in the users. Internet addiction is a newer phenomenon and there is no clear definition of internet addiction. Background: Despite increasing concern over the potential adverse effects of excessive internet use, especially in young people, there is some debate over its definition, magnitude and discriminant validity. Demographics. Evidence suggests Internet addiction is most prevalent among males, people with higher income, and those who exhibit certain psychosocial traits like neuroticism, impulsivity, and loneliness. Internet addicts make the Internet a priority more important than family, friends, and work. Diagnosis. Internet addiction is an excessive or out-of-control use of the internet. The estimated international prevalence rates of Internet addiction is 1.5–8.2%. proponents of social networks believe that the Internet provides users with a sense of confidence in a new environment, along with the opportunity to connect with others, research suggests that increased usage of technology may entrap users with a false reality, which may lead to an unhealthy addiction to the cyber world. Internet Addiction Definition. Shaw and Black (2008). Since then, there is growing concern about the addictive nature of the Internet. "Internet Addiction: A Brief Summary of Research and Practice;" Current Psychiatry Reviews. Smoking is addictive - Front of pack ; Smoking is addictive - Back of pack ; Brazil. Relationships of loneliness and mobile phone dependence with Internet addiction in Japanese medical students Satoko Ezoe, Masahiro Toda DOI: 10.4236/ojpm.2013.36055 … Internet addiction appears to have three subtypes: excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations (cybersex), and text messaging. Finally, for the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIA-Goldberg), one who meets three or more criteria is defined as having "Internet Addiction Disorder." According to a recent survey by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 86 per cent of students in Ontario visit social media sites daily and about 16 per cent spend five hours a day or more on social media. Examining internet use demographic trends can reveal which groups may be more at risk of unhealthy internet use: Internet Gaming Disorder. The causes can vary with gender, age and personality. Some of the possible causes of internet addiction … Currently, internet addiction prevalence is only estimated to be between 1.5–8%, which may reflect that internet addiction is underdiagnosed. Prevention. Causes and symptoms. Internet addiction is a growing epidemic characterized by a compulsive desire to interact online through internet gaming, gambling, cybersex, social networking or compulsive surfing of the web. Definition. Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction in which a person becomes dependent on use of the Internet, or other online devices, as a maladaptive way of coping with life's stresses. Internet addiction should be replaced by terms that refer to the specific behaviors (eg, gaming, gambling, or sexual activity), regardless of whether these are performed online or offline. Internet addiction has been called Internet dependency and Internet compulsivity. For some people, going online becomes an addiction. Addiction Australia. One could make the claim that internet addiction disorder is a spectrum disorder which involves compulsive use of the World Wide Web in a manner that interrupts normal daily life, relationships or other important events.