Traditionally, addiction centres on either addictive or non-addictive substances. Exercising increases the relaxing neuro-transmitters in the brain, elevating the mood. Those addicted to aerobics feel depressed, irritable and unable to function if they do not exercise. The few studies examining Internet addiction disagree on a single definition for this problem and vary widely on how many hours online constitutes addiction. According to Okasha, people spending two to three hours a day browsing the net are potential addicts.
Internet addicts can be nervous, sometimes violent, when away from their computers.
And the hours they spend browsing increase over time, gradually absorbing them completely and dissociating them from society. It is therefore not recommended to use the Internet for more than a couple of hours daily, Okasha warns. But those suffering emotional or relationship problems, or those too shy, socially unskilled, insecure and unconfident, can fall into the trap of preferring virtual to real interaction. Teenagers, Grohol explains, talk on the phone for hours on end everyday. People lose hours at a time immersed in a book, ignoring friends and family, and often not picking up the phone when it rings.