Stanford University Study Explores Internet Addiction Statistics

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Stanford University Study Explores Internet Addiction Statistics

7:30 am on October 22, 2006 | Category: Web Services, Internet

Over an eighth of American adults exhibit at least one sign of internet addiction, according to a recent study by Stanford University researchers.

The study was based on a phone survey of 2,500 adults, two-thirds of which are regular internet users. Interviews asked whether these people tried to cover up non-essential internet use, let their personal relationships suffer, or had difficulty being offline for several days at a time.

Each of these problematic behaviors drew a “yes” response from between 4% and 14% of respondents, and many of those surveyed pled guilty to all three.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which psychiatrists use to diagnose mental illnesses, doesn’t currently recognize internet addiction as genuine condition. Many researchers, however, believe that this issue needs to be reconsidered, and that web “addicts” should be able to receive psychological help.