“Addictions” and Problematic Behaviors linked to Internet and Social Networks. Critical Synthesis of Research and New Perspectives

Abstract

The explosive increase in the number of Internet users, frequencies and durations of connection, led to many scientific controversies on the question of Internet “addictions” (to online social networks, online gaming, online gambling, online pornography, smartphones). The debates are intensive to know if there are or not real addictions. This article presents a critical synthesis of models and major scientific research on these topics: how to define addictions related to the Internet and social networks? Are they new mental disorders or consequences of pre-existing psychological or psychosocial disorders? What are the risk factors predisposing to excessive and problematic uses and what are the consequences for those who suffer from them? Then we open new perspectives for multidisciplinary research to go beyond the addiction / non-addiction debate. We propose a communicational approach linking production and uses of digital devices and contextualizing problematic behaviors with the Internet. We give leads to better understand excessive Internet uses in their biological, psychological, social and economic complexity. Keywords: Internet addiction, addiction to social networks on the Internet, Internet disorders

Keywords

• internet addiction
• addiction to social networks on the internet
• internet disorders