Internet addiction disorder

Problematic internet use (colloquially "internet addiction disorder")
Problematic internet use (colloquially "internet addiction disorder")
Specialty	Psychiatry; Psychology;

Internet addiction disorder (IAD), also known as problematic internet use or pathological internet use, is problematic, compulsive use of the internet, particularly social media, that impairs individual function over a prolonged period of time. Young people are at particular risk of developing internet addiction disorder,^[1] with case studies highlighting students whose academic performance declines as they spend more time online.^[2] Some experience health consequences from loss of sleep^[3] as they stay up to continue scrolling, chatting, and gaming.^[4]

Excessive Internet use is not recognized as a disorder by the World Health Organization, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). However, gaming disorder appears in the ICD-11. Controversy around the diagnosis includes whether the disorder is a separate clinical entity, or a manifestation of underlying psychiatric disorders. Definitions are not standardized or agreed upon, complicating the development of evidence-based recommendations.

Users under 30 access the Internet more than other age groups and experience a higher risk of overuse.^[5]

In 2011 the term "Facebook addiction disorder" (FAD) emerged.^[6] FAD is characterized by compulsive use of Facebook. A 2017 study investigated a correlation between excessive use and narcissism, reporting "FAD was significantly positively related to the personality trait narcissism and to negative mental health variables (depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms)".^[7]^[8]

In 2020, the documentary The Social Dilemma reported the concerns of mental health experts and former employees of social media companies over social media's pursuit of addictive use. For example, when a user has not visited Facebook for some time, the platform varies its notifications, attempting to lure them back. It also raises concerns about the correlation between social media use and child and teen suicidality.^[9]

Turning off social media notifications may help reduce social media use.^[10] For some users, changes in web browsing can be helpful in compensating for self-regulatory problems. For instance, a study involving 157 online learners on massive open online courses examined the impact of such an intervention. The study reported that providing support in self-regulation was associated with a reduction in time spent online, particularly on entertainment.^[11]

^ Tomczyk Ł, Solecki R (July 2019). "Problematic internet use and protective factors related to family and free time activities among young people". Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice. 19 (3): 1–13. doi:10.12738/estp.2019.3.001.
^ "emigration-plummets-to-lowest-figure-recorded-apr-2-1984-1-p". Human Rights Documents online. doi:10.1163/2210-7975_hrd-1326-0318. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ Tereshchenko S, Kasparov E, Smolnikova M, Shubina M, Gorbacheva N, Moskalenko O (October 2021). "Internet Addiction and Sleep Problems among Russian Adolescents: A Field School-Based Study". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18 (19): 10397. doi:10.3390/ijerph181910397. PMC 8507923. PMID 34639694.
^ Wallace P (January 2014). "Internet addiction disorder and youth: There are growing concerns about compulsive online activity and that this could impede students' performance and social lives". EMBO Reports. 15 (1): 12–6. doi:10.1002/embr.201338222. PMC 4303443. PMID 24398129.
^ Anderson EL, Steen E, Stavropoulos V (2017). "Internet use and Problematic Internet Use: A systematic review of longitudinal research trends in adolescence and emergent adulthood". International Journal of Adolescence and Youth. 22 (4): 430–454. doi:10.1080/02673843.2016.1227716. S2CID 152003110.
^ Summers, Amy (May 2, 2011). "Facebook Addiction Disorder — The 6 Symptoms of F.A.D." AdWeek. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
^ Brailovskaia, J.; Margraf, J. (2017). "Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) among German students—A longitudinal approach". PLOS ONE. 12 (12): 2423–2478. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1289719B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0189719. PMC 5730190. PMID 29240823.
^ Zhao, Nan; Zhou, Guangyu (9 February 2021). "COVID-19 Stress and Addictive Social Media Use (SMU): Mediating Role of Active Use and Social Media Flow". Frontiers in Psychiatry. 12: 635546. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.635546. PMC 7899994. PMID 33633616.
^ Watch The Social Dilemma. www.netflix.com (Film). Netflix Official Site. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
^ Kane, Suzanne (December 6, 2018). "Portion-Control in Social Media? How Limiting Time Increases Well-Being". World of Psychology. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
^ Pogorskiy, Eduard; Beckmann, Jens F. (2023). "From procrastination to engagement? An experimental exploration of the effects of an adaptive virtual assistant on self regulation in online learning". Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence. 4: 100111. doi:10.1016/j.caeai.2022.100111. S2CID 254612244.

[:11-1] Tomczyk Ł, Solecki R (July 2019). "Problematic internet use and protective factors related to family and free time activities among young people". Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice. 19 (3): 1–13. doi:10.12738/estp.2019.3.001.

[:14-2] "emigration-plummets-to-lowest-figure-recorded-apr-2-1984-1-p". Human Rights Documents online. doi:10.1163/2210-7975_hrd-1326-0318. Retrieved September 28, 2022.

[Internet_Addiction_and_Sleep_Proble-3] Tereshchenko S, Kasparov E, Smolnikova M, Shubina M, Gorbacheva N, Moskalenko O (October 2021). "Internet Addiction and Sleep Problems among Russian Adolescents: A Field School-Based Study". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18 (19): 10397. doi:10.3390/ijerph181910397. PMC 8507923. PMID 34639694.

[:15-4] Wallace P (January 2014). "Internet addiction disorder and youth: There are growing concerns about compulsive online activity and that this could impede students' performance and social lives". EMBO Reports. 15 (1): 12–6. doi:10.1002/embr.201338222. PMC 4303443. PMID 24398129.

[5] Anderson EL, Steen E, Stavropoulos V (2017). "Internet use and Problematic Internet Use: A systematic review of longitudinal research trends in adolescence and emergent adulthood". International Journal of Adolescence and Youth. 22 (4): 430–454. doi:10.1080/02673843.2016.1227716. S2CID 152003110.

[6] Summers, Amy (May 2, 2011). "Facebook Addiction Disorder — The 6 Symptoms of F.A.D." AdWeek. Retrieved 2011-05-02.

[7] Brailovskaia, J.; Margraf, J. (2017). "Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) among German students—A longitudinal approach". PLOS ONE. 12 (12): 2423–2478. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1289719B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0189719. PMC 5730190. PMID 29240823.

[8] Zhao, Nan; Zhou, Guangyu (9 February 2021). "COVID-19 Stress and Addictive Social Media Use (SMU): Mediating Role of Active Use and Social Media Flow". Frontiers in Psychiatry. 12: 635546. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.635546. PMC 7899994. PMID 33633616.

[9] Watch The Social Dilemma. www.netflix.com (Film). Netflix Official Site. Retrieved 2022-04-13.

[10] Kane, Suzanne (December 6, 2018). "Portion-Control in Social Media? How Limiting Time Increases Well-Being". World of Psychology. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved 2019-04-29.

[11] Pogorskiy, Eduard; Beckmann, Jens F. (2023). "From procrastination to engagement? An experimental exploration of the effects of an adaptive virtual assistant on self regulation in online learning". Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence. 4: 100111. doi:10.1016/j.caeai.2022.100111. S2CID 254612244.

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