Like a storm, Internet addiction disorder (IAD), also known as problematic Internet use (PIU) or compulsive Internet use (CIU), is ripping through lives, homes and business. Unlike substance dependency, Internet addiction is not easily recognised but it bears some of the symptoms of other forms of addictions. Below are some of them. You are free to add to the list.
1. The first thing you do in the morning is check your phone
If the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is check your phone, reply all messages, check social media networks and update your status to ‘awake’ instead of brushing, praying or taking your bath.
2. You get restless when your battery is flat
Having smartphone that attends to your online needs unfortunately doesn’t have an unlimited life battery, though many are praying it’ll be invented. If you are the type that gets restless and uncomfortable when his or her smart phone is down then you are an addict.
3. You are desperate to update your data plan
Another clause in the wonders of smartphone is that you have to update your data plan. If you are the type that makes a fuss over the end of a data plan and gets desperate enough to want to renew the data plan while knowing fully well that you use your plan for personal use and not for business, well you are our ready test subject as an Internet addict.
4. You look through your phone to answer the simplest question
The beauty of the internet is that it provides solution to almost everything. As an Internet addict you are that person that goes to Google to ask the basic question of ‘what will I eat today’.
5. You spend more time online than with your friends or family
It’s no fun being a loner, yes, but you have this idea that you are not a loner because you have about 5000 friends across the world. Your addiction to Internet thus prompts you to ignore your real family and friends. By the way,myou are still a loner.
6. You can eat and be online at the same time
Eating and texting takes hard work. Eating and checking the Internet is just plain addiction. You do not have the patience to finish eating before you change your status or refresh your feeds every 30 seconds.
7. You get really angry when network fails
Unfortunately for Internet addicts Nigerian networks WILL always fail you. If you get angry because of this or react harshly towards those around you because of your situation then you are an Internet addict.
8. You sleep late because you are online
If you are a late sleeper because you are tweeting, Facebooking or doing other stuff online you are a perfect specimen of who we refer to as an Internet addict.
