Is there such as thing as internet addiction?

Is constantly checking e-mails or playing online games already a sign of internet addiction?

Yes, internet addiction does exist, and it affects hundreds, if not thousands, of people all over the world. A person checking his e-mail for about five to ten times a day may or may not be addicted to the internet, since the frequency of doing something is not the basis for internet addiction.

One can say that a person becomes truly addicted when the act of checking e-mails already has a negative effect on his own life and the lives of other people around him. For example, if I am unable to do my chores and assignments because I am glued to watching videos on YouTube, then that could be a sign of internet addiction.

Moreover, an internet addict seems to live in a virtual world, since he focuses more on the people he knows online rather than his own families and friends. Thus, internet addiction is not just an individual problem, but also a burden to the whole family.