The buzz about Facebook is big this week as the potential sharks await their IPO, scheduled within the happen the next couple weeks. There is no denying it has become everyone’s favorite obsession and other than some press regarding its negative role in precipitating cyber-bullying, few people consider an equally worrisome concern: becoming an addict.
Although other forms of internet addiction have been going on since the birth of the web and specifically internet porn and gaming has continued to surge as common addictions, the potential impact of Facebook on addictive behavior is unprecedented. Consider that 40 percent of the population in recent polls admits to using Facebook on a regular basis. The age range of users spans from kids under 10 years old to adults over 80 years old. The staggering ability to span such a wide-spread age-group is what makes it so concerning with respect to addiction.
If you look at another common internet addiction, internet porn, the vast majority of people addicted are males in the age range of 17-51 according to recent data on the subject. Another example of a a wide-spread addiction is illicit drug and alcohol use. Although both males and females are nearly equal offenders, the age range typically spans a narrower window. The only comparison to the impact of Facebook is cigarette smoking, especially 10 plus years ago before smoking rates have steadily decreased.
Why is this important? First, consider why Facebook can be classified as an addiction. One of strongest pieces of evidence is the presence of physical withdrawal symptoms in people who abruptly stop using their Facebook and social media outlets. Several well designed studies measuring symptoms such as galvanic skin response (sweating), elevated heart rate, insomnia and feelings of anxiety/restlessness, are present in these people. These are identical symptoms, although in a more mild form, to drug/alcohol withdrawal.
Another clear piece of evidence is that Facebook over-use fits the definition psychiatrists use for drug dependence and includes the following criteria-Tolerance of the “drug” is built up over time; more and more time is spent on Facebook without realizing the enormous amount of time wasted. The “drug” is taken in larger amounts or for longer periods than initially anticipated; most users admit that when they started using, they did not anticipate it would consume their lives. A persistent desire to cut-down or stop using the “drug.” A great deal of time is spent either using or obtaining the “drug.” Important social, occupational and recreational activities are given up or reduced due to use of the “drug.” Last, the drug is continued despite knowledge of having a recurrent psychological or physical problem caused by the “drug.”
