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The internet addiction test

 

Addictions are defined as a “compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly: persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful” – Merriam Webster

The concept of internet addiction was initially proposed in 1995 as a way to mock the diagnostic fallacies of major psychiatric classificatory systems. The idea of someone becoming addicted to the internet was originally considered  essentially different from addictions to substances of abuse. Coming back to 2018, the number of hours collectively lost to problematic internet use is probably much greater the amount of time lost to  addictions to substances.

Ils doivent envisager qu’une grande responsabilité est la suite inséparable d’un grand pouvoir. – They must consider that great responsibility follows inseparably from great power.

As Access to the internet has become an essential commodity in most households, comparable to electricity and running water.  As the use of  smartphones and other internet enabled  devices have become more widespread, most people are online “perpetually.” In theory, the long term effect of immediate access to information could lead to long term reductions in learning in memory and cognition. In theory, recent research has shown that excessive internet use can indeed become very problematic. Do you think your internet use could be bordering on being excessive ?

The quiz is based on the The Internet Addiction Test (IAT) which is the first Validated measure of Internet Addiction. The test consists of  20 questions and will take around 5-10 minutes to complete.  All the best !

Take the internet addiction test

Required fields are marked *

1.Do you find that you stay online longer than you intended? *
2.Do you neglect household chores to spend more time online? *
3.Do you prefer the excitment of the internet to intimacy with your partner? *
4.Do you form new relationships with fellow online users? *
5.Do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend online? *
6.Does your work suffer because of the amount of time you spend online? (E.g., postponing things, not meeting deadlines, etc.) *
7.Do you check your email before something else you need to do? *
8.Does your job performance or productivity suffer because of the internet? *
9.Do you become defensive or secretive when anyone asks you what you do online? *
10.Do you block disturbing thoughts about your life with soothing thoughts of the internet? *
11.Do you find yourself anticipating when you will go online again? *
12.Do you fear that life without the internet would be boring, empty or joyless? *
13.Do you snap, yell, or act annoyed if someone bothers you while you are online? *
14.Do you lose sleep due to late night internet use? *
15.Do you feel preoccupied with the internet when not online, or fantasize about being online? *
16.Do you find yourself saying “Just a few more minutes” when online? *
17.Do you try to cut down on the amount of time you spend online and fail?. *
18.Do you try and hide how long you’ve been online? *
19.Do you choose to spend more time online over spending time out with others? *
20.Do you feel depressed, moody, or nervous when you are not online, and do these feelings go awhile when you go back online? *