10/3/08 9:51 AMHowstuffworks "How Computer Addiction Works"Page 1 of 5http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-addiction.htm/printableVideo Center Maps Consumer Guide: Auto Reviews | Product Reviews Make HSW your homepage | Get Newsletter | RSS | Random ArticleSearch HowStuffWorks and the web Home > Computer > Internet > Community & Social NetworkingJohn Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty ImagesIs computer addiction "real," likealcohol and nicotine addiction?How Computer Addiction Worksby Ed GrabianowskiBrowse the article How Computer Addiction WorksIntroduction to How Computer Addiction WorksObsessively checking e-mail. Playing online games for 12 hours or more at a time. Placing more value on chat-roomfriends than real friends. Neglecting family, work and even personal health and hygiene. These are all symptoms of anew form of addiction that has surfaced only in recent years: computer addiction. In this article, we'll learn aboutcomputer addiction, why it's a problem -- and why some doctors disagree about whether it exists at all.Creating a single definition for computer addiction is difficult because the term actually covers a wide spectrum ofaddictions. Few people are literally addicted to a computer as a physical object. They become addicted to activitiesperformed on a computer, like instant messaging, viewing Internet pornography, playing video games, checking e-mailand reading news articles. These activities are collectively referred to as Computer Mediated Communication (CMC).Computer addiction focused on Internet use is often called Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD).The various types of computer addicts have different reasons for their habits. Obsessive chat room use or e-mailingmight fill a void of loneliness, while excessive viewing of pornography might stem from relationship problems orchildhood abuse. The matter is further complicated by the fact that a computer is a useful tool. It's not like heroin, forexample -- there are many legitimate reasons why someone might spend hours using a computer. Even if someoneuses a computer extensively for purely recreational purposes, that doesn't necessarily represent a real addiction anymore than someone who spends hours working on a model train set, making quilts or gardening is "addicted" to thoseactivities. Even the agreed-upon definition of addiction itself has evolved over the decades and remains a matter ofdebate in the medical community. In fact, the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Associationdo not currently consider computer addiction a valid diagnosis, a controversy we'll discuss later.As a result of all these complications, any single definition of computer addiction is necessarily broad and a littlevague. If the computer use is so pervasive that it interferes with other life activities, and if the user seems unable tostop using the computer to excess despite negative consequences, the problem might be a computer addiction.Video Gallery: Video GamesThe Sony PlayStation PS3 was the hottest and most anticipatedelectronics launch in recent history. It sold out of most storeswithin hours of its November 2006 U.S. launch.Some video games actually provide a workout for kids and canhelp reduce obesity. Learn about video game workouts in thisvideo from ScienCentral.Watch this video about the launch of Halo 3 in New York Citywith appearances by Bill Gates, Ludacris and Master Chiefhimself.Home Adventure Animals Auto CommunicationComputerElectronics Entertainment Food Geography Health History Home & Garden Money People ScienceComputer Hardware ▼ Computer Peripherals ▼ Computer Security ▼ Computer Software ▼ Internet ▼10/3/08 9:51 AMHowstuffworks "How Computer Addiction Works"Page 2 of 5http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-addiction.htm/printableUnsafe InternetWatch this video from Reuters asking "Is there a dark side to the Internet?"(February, 2007)More Computer VideosMore Reuters VideosRecognizing Computer AddictionMuch of our understanding of computer addiction comes from decades of research on other addictions, like alcoholism or gambling addiction. Psychologistshave identified several danger signs for computer addiction. Any of these signs would be a red flag, and multiple signs could mean there's a real problem.Photodisc/Getty ImagesMany computer addicts hide their computer use from family and friends.Staying on the computer for much longer than intended, or not noticing the passage of time while using the computerMaking conscious efforts to cut back on computer time and repeatedly failingThinking frequently about the computer when not using it or constantly looking forward to the next opportunity to use itHiding the extent of computer use from family and friendsUsing the computer as an escape when feeling depressed or stressedMissing events or opportunities or failing at non-computer-related tasks because of time spent on the computer. This could include poor jobperformance or missing out on family activities [source: Young].Continued excessive computer use despite incurring negative consequences, such as marital problems or getting in trouble at work due tocomputer use [source: Henderson]Computer Addiction and Child NeglectOne of the most notorious examples of a computer addictionsurfaced in Nevada in 2007. Michael and Iana Straw had twoyoung children who were neglected to the point ofmalnourishment and serious health problems because the couplewas so obsessed with playing online games. They were each10/3/08 9:51 AMHowstuffworks "How Computer Addiction Works"Page 3 of 5http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-addiction.htm/printablecharged with multiple counts of child abuse [source: Fox News]. Asimilar case occurred in South Korea in 2005, when two parentsleft a 4-month-old infant alone to play computer games at anInternet café. The baby died [source: Eurogamer].Negative Effects of Computer AddictionComputer addiction can have a variety of negative effects on a person. The most immediate are social. The user withdraws from friends and family as hespends more and more time on the computer. Relationships begin to wither as the user stops attending social gatherings, skips meetings with friends andavoids family members to get more computer time. Even when they do interact with their friends, users may become irritable when away from thecomputer, causing further social harm.Stockbyte/Getty ImagesComputer addicts withdraw socially as they spend more timeon the