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addictions. Still, there’s no typical Internet addict — just as with
drugs or alcohol, addiction can
affect anyone, regardless of age,
gender or socioeconomic status.
“It could be anyone. It could
be your grandmother, your
15-year-old son, your husband or
wife,” says Young. “Like any addiction, it affects all of us.”
But where is the line between
a teenager glued to a smartphone
and a full-blown addiction requiring medical attention? Signs
of a serious Internet addictive
TECH
disorder are comparable to the
symptoms of any other addiction, including lying about one’s
usage of technology, craving
more time on the Internet, unsuccessful attempts to control
behavior and increasingly poor
performance at school or work.
Young diagnoses Internet addiction with a comprehensive Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire that she developed using
20 questions (Do you feel restless,
moody, depressed, or irritable
when attempting to cut down or
stop Internet use? Do you stay
online longer than originally intended?) to assess attitudes and
HUFFINGTON
10.13.13