The Web: Just As Addictive As Cigarettes And Booze

Imagine this: You're going somewhere for the day, when you realize that you've left your smartphone and computer at home. You won't be able to retrieve them for the next 24 hours.

What's the first word that comes to mind?

If it's "nightmare," you should probably consider yourself digitally dependent, according to a new study that showed that for such people, unplugging is like giving up smoking or drinking.

The British study, conducted by the consumer behavior research company Intersperience, shows that 53 percent of people feel "upset" when they are unable to have an Internet connection, and 40 percent of people said they feel "lonely" if they can't go online.

On the other hand, only 23 percent said they would feel "free" if they were cut off from the Internet, Intersperience found.

The study involved 1,000 people ages 18 to 65, who were surveyed about their attitudes toward and usage of the Internet and smartphones. Some of the people also underwent the challenge of unplugging for a full 24 hours.

One participant who gave up technology for a day said it was "like having my hand chopped off," while another said it was "my biggest nightmare," Intersperience reported.

The findings are similar to a University of Maryland study of 200 students who gave up the Internet and technology for 24 hours. Many of those students said they felt lonely and deserted, and also reported signs of addiction.

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Comments

[Lady Nature]

05:42 AM on 07/29/2011

The internet is a great resource for finding work and places to live. It's also a great research tool for just about anything that crosses your mind. I love it.

[Pauly Pigeon]

07:57 PM on 07/28/2011

Is anyone out there prostituting themselves for an internet connection? Addiction is a word that is thrown around too much.

[David305]

10:45 PM on 07/30/2011

When an addiction is legalized, taxed and available (ie: cigarettes, alcohol, iPad ) people don't prostitute themselves in order to get it.

[island fever1]

07:24 PM on 07/28/2011

I'm a self-admitted Internet junkie. I need to get out of here and go to a Vipassana retreat!

[Richard Conquerer]

06:14 PM on 07/28/2011

This study is moronic. The HUGE difference is cigarettes and booze are ridiculously bad for you. The Internet is just a thing.

[Jeoffrey Mendez]

04:35 PM on 07/28/2011

I can quit anytime I want.. for the rest of you that need 12 steps, here is the 1st step - TAKE A BREAK... and here's is the app to do it http://takingabreakapp.com/

[matilda81]

04:01 PM on 07/28/2011

I admit that I am completely addicted to the internet, especially the news. When we got rid of cable, I thought the obsessive news watching would decrease. Now that I am solely reliant on the web, it has only become worse. With that said, I think it is time to get off the Huffington Post for a few hours. ;)

[mcwhomper]

07:34 AM on 07/28/2011

the main point to this article is our government probably spent a million dollars on this research but wants to cut social security and medicare

[ruthieriver1]

01:48 AM on 07/28/2011

I would comment on this, alas I'm fearful of being away that long from actual interesting news....I am no longer bloody clever...................

[knarf714]

12:38 AM on 07/28/2011

They will be opening the Al Gore wing at the Betty Ford clinic soon.

[oliviaengland]

12:17 AM on 07/28/2011

im not that addicted to the internet i use it for school when im in school but im blissfully on summer break and i do spend alot of time on here but not that much i think to say the internet is jsut as addictive as smoking which i will never ever do and saying it is also is just as addictive as booze is kinda stupid!

[ladywiccan]

11:31 PM on 07/27/2011

try living in a house that hasfour women two of which are teenagers this ols granny had to get a cell phone just to talk to her sister

[360Dunk]

11:00 PM on 07/27/2011

My newspaper, tv, and radio tried an intervention with me, but I relapsed within hours. Even a trojan virus is helpless against this addiction.

[kjbarfarms]

02:55 AM on 07/28/2011

Well most of those you mentioned have become digital. You read the paper on line. Laughing just like we are doing now, and you can watch TV on line, and listen to the radio on line. Dont even know why I keep a radio or TV anymore, and need to cancel my subscription to the paper. Laughing again!!!!!!

[cqdeed]

10:22 PM on 07/27/2011

"Upset", "Lonely", "Free". Was this multiple choice test? Were there any other choices? How about ambivalent? Generally, I spend hours a day on the internet but can go weeks at a time and don't really miss it. Especially if I can get the news elsewhere. I seldom have a drink but wish I could do that with smoking.

[mszags]

09:40 PM on 07/27/2011

Maybe there`s a detox and 12 step plan for it......................

[petradisruption]

09:37 PM on 07/27/2011

oh, so was this ad going to try to take the focus off the bad things of DRUGS?