A report from the US has shown that just over 15% of Americans between 18 and 25 have compulsive internet use. while it would not be considered an addiction, some people in the medical field think that it is a very real type of compulsive disorder
“its a psychological issues…its not an addiction, its not biological…but what we do see is it used as an escape mechanism” says Professor Rick Csiernick
Rick Csiernick of kings university is one person who thinks that it is a real form of mental illness and feels that social media has been a big part of this, saying that these forms of communication does not provide us with the basic human interaction we all require.
“There is different levels of connection, there information connection, knowledge connection, but there is human social interaction, and that is the piece that’s missing [in social media]…we are hard wired as human beings to need that to be able to support one another and be healthy”.
Rick also points out that with every new form of media or entertainment, there is always a level of risk.
