Academic

Are You an Internet Addict?

By Jacqueline Lipton

To take my mind off the spring law review submission season, I've been reading "Born Digital" by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser - a very good book particularly if you're interested in cyberlaw and emerging cybernorms.

One interesting factoid I have gleaned relates to current debates as to whether there is (or should be) a recognized psychiatric classification for Internet Addiction (or "Internet addiction disorder").  There is an interesting debate about this that is nicely summarized on Wikipedia.

Palfrey and Gasser list the emerging diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction:

1. Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet, anticipating the next session online?
2. Does the amount of time required online to feel satisfied seem to grow?
3. Do you lie about time spent online to deceive friends or family members?
4. Has the Internet jeopardized your relationships?

(See "Digital Natives", p 188).

As it's 10.00pm on a Saturday night and I'm blogging this, I guess it's pretty clear what my answers would be.  (Better check my email now before I turn in ...)

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on March 21, 2009 (boomark / email).