[Colin2B (OP)]

I was talking to a professor of psychology who said he was seeing a number of children who are exhibiting signs of physical distress, anxiety etc when they are unable to access social media.
I have also seen a number of TV reports saying similar,
I did read somewhere that sex and gambling addictions light up the same areas of the brain as those of physical dependencies  eg drug and alcohol.
Is it possible that use of forums, twitter, facebook etc can form a physical dependancy in some people ie not just a habit pattern that can be broken?

[chris]

We interviewed Daria Kuss, from NTU, about this recently, and she wrote an article about it:

1 - Is social media addictive - interview on the Naked Scientists Podcast

2 - Article asking "Is Social Media Addictive"

[Colin2B (OP)]

Thanks @chris this answers the question, but leaves some interesting questions about the effects of dependancy eg anxiety, irritability, poor concentration - factors which lead to poor face to face skills.

[chris]

Thanks @chris this answers the question, but leaves some interesting questions about the effects of dependancy eg anxiety, irritability, poor concentration - factors which lead to poor face to face skills.

In what respect? Are you suggesting that these are "withdrawal effects" triggered by social media deprivation, or "side effects" of over-use?

[alancalverd]

Heinz Wolff had an interesting take on mobile phones. He pointed out that our species depends on collaboration and communication to a greater extent than any other mammal - very few of us could survive without other humans, and even Robinson Crusoe depended initially on tools made by someone else. As a result, we are inherently a chattering species, like chimpanzees but more so.

Mobile phones and their derivatives allow us to choose from a wider group of chatterers and collaborators, with little chance of harm or exclusion from the whole group if we dislike one or two members. So whilst we are "herd-wired", picking and choosing our virtual herd is even more satisfying than family and neighbours.

Teenagers being wired to rebel, and scientists being self-selected as skeptics, we can immediately identify two groups who may find on-line communities more enjoyable and accepting than real ones.  The dangers are obvious.

[chris]

Brilliantly put, @alancalverd

[Paul.D]

As many people are beginning to think, the internet can be addicting. If one is under the feeling of becoming addicted then it is important to implement corrective actions in order to kick-out these habits. Any parent would have experienced the difficulty in dragging their child from a tablet or a smartphone. There is so much evidence which indicates that youngsters lack maturity in order to curb these addictions on their own and by confiscating the device altogether in majority of cases has backfired, resulting in causing withdrawal symptoms and anxiety to the affected child.