Social Networking: An Internet Addiction?

We're Spending More And More Time Maintaining Relationships Online

(CBS) 
Users say they end up connecting with many more people than they otherwise would; however, some wonder if all that instant information has a down side.

"It can really get addicting," admits Adriana Manago, a graduate student in psychology. "You start to want to stalk people. You kind of follow their every move. People who normally wouldn't be stalkers might even find themselves kind of following people online."

So where's the dividing line between having fun and having an addiction? CNET.com Senior Editor Natali del Conte says the American Psychiatric Association is starting to recognize Internet addiction as a real affliction.

There are signs. Del Conte says if you find you can't function in your real life without the social networks, then there's a problem.

How can you prevent Internet addiction? Del Conte offers a few recommendations:

• Set limits: Associate your social network as a leisure activity, not something you need to accomplish every day. Set aside a time of day, for example your lunch or coffee break, to visit the sites.
  
• Turn off e-mail notifications: Many sites send e-mail alerts when someone posts a message on your social networking page. Getting lots of these e-mail alerts can tempt you to visit the sites more often, so its best to disable this feature.
  
• Don't leave your social networks open: People using tabbed Internet browsers may tend to leave windows open. It's best to close out those windows when you are through with your alloted time. Del Conte says Salary.com released a study last year that found, on average, Americans are spending 1.7 hours of their work day fooling around on the Internet.
  
• Don't network on your phone: Many social networking sites have mobile applications. If you feel you are on the verge of addiction, you should ask yourself if you really need this on your phone.

[IceCreamMelts]

Although we are publishing a fictional book titled, ?Facebook Addiction: The Life and Times of Social Networking Addicts.? We think that this is a real issue that stems from other underlying psychological issues.

http://www.TheFacebookAddiction.com

[forasongca]

I''m *not* addicted. I can quit anytime I want.