US Students Suffer from Internet Addiction, Study Claims

According to a recent study conducted by the University of Maryland, heavy users of computers, cell phones, social media, and other electronic devices may be addicted.

The study conducted of 200 students asked for the group to give up all electronic media for a 24 hour time period. After the 24 hour deprivation period, the students were asked to write about their feelings in regards to the experience. Many of the students expressed experiencing cravings and feelings of anxiety. Others said that they felt they were unable to function well without frequent access to their media sources.

Susan Moeller, the study’s director, said that the most complaints came from the group’s inability to access their text messages, email, and social network accounts such as Twitter and Facebook. One student wrote that they were addicted and found the dependency sickening. Another student said that these items allow a connection with friends and family, which without, “I felt quite alone and secluded from my life.”

The UM study is not the first of its type. In 2009, a company known as ReSTART was opened in Redmond, Washington, that allows for the study of addictions to these types of electronic media.

Although internet addiction is not acknowledged as an actual condition by the American Psychiatric Association, many people are convinced otherwise. One married couple who played online games in excess of 12 hours a day has been charged with neglect and homicide in their daughter’s death. The girl passed away due to neglect.