Internet Addiction

Nearly everyone today stays online throughout the day, which leaves most people exposed to some degree of internet addiction. The compulsive use can attach itself to social networks, online shopping, video games, or pornography. Its effects range from anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep to isolation and bodily illness. Some sufferers lose their careers or their relationships, and in rare, severe cases the condition has contributed to the death of the person affected or of a child in that person's care.

This book is the newest installment in the Health and Medical Issues Today series from Greenwood. The first section defines internet addiction, describes its varied forms, and lays out the harm it can cause. The second section takes up debates and open questions, including how to weigh the internet's advantages against its capacity to hook users.

The final section offers practical resources: case studies, a chronology of key developments, and a guide to organizations and sources of help.