Internet Addiction

Okay, repeat after me, "My name is (insert your name) I have an internet addiction. I am what is called an internet junkie. I have a big problem and it is my fault: I love the web; in particular I enjoy hanging out on social networking sites, chat rooms, texting, and messaging to the point where virtual, online friends become more important than real-life relationships with family and friends.”

Sound familiar? This really illustrates how addicted we as a society have become to the internet.

According to a new study, the average person these days spends one out of every 12 waking minutes on the internet. Actually, I thought it would have been higher.

Think about it, next time you're in a room full of people, make a mental note of just how many of them are fiddling around with their phones. How many of them are checking email, Facebook, sending a text, playing Words with Friends or some other gaming app.

I bet it could be as high as 75% of the people in the room, if not more. It's just crazy how addicted we've all become to the Internet.

The average person spends about 85 minutes every day online. That works out to 43 hours a month or 21-and-a-half full days per year.

That's just about a 50% increase over the online time we were spending just three years ago. In 2010, the average person was only spending 22 hours a month online.

Why the big increase? 2010 was the year when the iPad and other tablets arrived on the scene allowing us just another avenue to go online.

While time spent online can be productive and fun, compulsive internet use can be a real problem for some.  

A number of people who suffer from compulsive internet usage fall into traps like excessive use of social media and chat sites. Online shopping, gaming and gambling, compulsive use of online auction sites, and worse yet, things like Cybersex addictions. All of which can interfere with daily life, work and relationships.

If you know someone that compulsively checks their Smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device to the point where it has a negative consequence on their life, there's a good chance they may be using the Internet too much.

If that's the case learn about the signs and symptoms of Internet addiction and how to get help.

Source: Daily Mail