You could say that we find them unavoidable. The big problem with always being linked to the digital world is that we are susceptible to developing addictions to it. What’s wrong with having a little connectedness in our lives? We all share on social media and check our notifications. And most likely, it’s one that you’ve picked up today more times than you think. You’re probably reading this from a device. Listen to the audio of this summary with a free reading.fm account*: But what is it about smartphones that makes them so compelling? Should we introduce structural checks and balances on the growing role they play in our collective lives? A symptom affecting so many people is no less real or more acceptable simply because it becomes a new norm we need to understand that symptom to decide whether and how to deal with it. Not everyone who uses a smartphone for more than ninety minutes a day should be in treatment.

There they see behavioral addiction as a social issue rather than a medical issue.” I agree. What we should be doing is what they do in Taiwan and Korea. “Medicalizing behavioral addiction is a mistake. Shy kids were suddenly labeled “Asperger’s sufferers” when the term became popular people with volatile emotions were similarly labeled “bipolar.” Allen Frances, a psychiatrist and expert on addiction, is concerned about the term “behavioral addiction.” “If 35 percent of people suffer from a disorder, then it’s just a part of human nature,” he says. A label can encourage people to see a disorder everywhere. “Still, it’s important to use the term “behavioral addiction” carefully. Irresistible: Why We Can’t Stop Checking, Scrolling, Clicking and Watching

A score of 13–20 indicates moderate Internet addiction, which implies that your relationship with the Internet is causing you “occasional or frequent problems.” A score between 21 and 25 suggests severe Internet addiction, and implies that the Internet is causing “significant problems in your life.” A score of 8–12 suggests mild Internet addiction-you may spend too long on the web sometimes, but you’re generally in control of your usage.

“Internet Addiction Test Select the response that best represents the frequency of each behavior listed using the scale below: 0 = Not applicable 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always How often do you find that you stay online longer than you intended? _ How often do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend online? _ How often do you check your email before something else that you need to do? _ How often do you lose sleep because of late night log-ins? _ How often do you find yourself saying “just a few minutes” when online? _ If you scored 7 or below, you show no signs of Internet addiction.

Irresistible by adam alter