It seems like this will have serious reprecussions on child development, and is unique to this generation. In response to the many requests I have had for a newsletter, I have created a mailing list and will be sending out newsletters via e-mail every two weeks. As a therapist I think you've hit the nail on the head. Depression, poor social skills, avoidance of pressures and conflicts IRL probably underlie so-called addiction to the Net. I also believe that the anonymity the Net provides is very alluring.
People choose how to use it.
I can drive drunk and smash my car or use it to ferry my kids to school. But the car is just a thing - it's how I use it that counts. When I asked my boyfriend if he wanted to rent a movie or do something different he broke it off. After 3 years he broke off out relationship. He broke up with me because he could spend one night away from his computer games.