Computer Addiction

Computer addiction is a loosely used term for the excessive use of computers to the extent that it interferes with daily life. Excessive use may explain problems in social interaction, mood, personality, work ethic, relationships, thought processes, or sleep deprivation. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not include a diagnosis for such a disorder.

The term computer addiction originated long before the Internet.

Some people develop bad habits in their computer use that cause them significant problems in their lives. The types of behavior and negative consequences are similar to those of known addictive disorders.

Effects

Excessive computer use may result in, or occur with:

• Lack of social interaction.
• Using the computer for pleasure, gratification, or relief from stress.
• Feeling irritable and out of control or depressed when not using it.
• Spending increasing amounts of time and money on hardware, software, magazines, and computer-related activities.
• Neglecting work, school, or family obligations.
• Lying about the amount of time spent on computer activities.
• Risking loss of career goals, educational objectives, and personal relationships.
• Failing at repeated efforts to control computer use.

Origin of the term

British e-Learning academic Nicholas Rushby suggested in his 1979 book, An Introduction to Educational Computing, that people can be addicted to computers and suffer withdrawal symptoms. The term was also used by M. Shotton in 1989 in her book Computer Addiction.

History

There are examples of computer overuse dating back to the earliest computer games. Many Net News users were considered obsessive in the 1980s.

Press reports have noted that some Finnish Defence Forces conscripts were not mature enough to meet the demands of military life, and were required to interrupt or postpone military service for a year. One reported source of the lack of needed social skills is overuse of computer games or the Internet. Forbes termed this overuse "Web fixations", and stated that they were responsible for 12 such interruptions or deferrals over the 5 years from 2000-2005

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