Are you addicted to the Internet?

A recent report has suggested that the availability of broadband has resulted in many consumers in the UK becoming addicted to the Internet

These days many households and individuals would not be able to imagine life without access to the Internet, and with the vast majority of households in the UK now having access to the Internet many people spend a fair amount of time each week simply staring at a computer screen and tapping away on the keyboard.

In fact, a recent report has suggested that Britain is a nation that is becoming addicted to the Internet, with many people stating that they do not know quite what to do when they are unable to get online. The survey was carried out by YouGov, and according to the report close to fifty percent of those polled said that they felt stressed when they were unable to access the Internet.

The study claims that around forty four percent of users are left feeling confused and stressed when they lost access to the Internet, and to describe this situation uses the term ‘discomgoogolation’.The survey also revealed some worrying trends, such as figures indicating that nineteen percent of users spend more time on the Internet than with their families each week, and thirty four percent stating that they would choose to go on the Internet rather than exercise,

One official involved in the study suggested that the availability and affordability of broadband had fuelled Britain’s obsession with getting online. Psychologist Dr David Lewis said: “The proliferation of broadband has meant for the first time in history we’ve entered a culture of instant answers. A galaxy of information is just a mouse click away and we have become addicted to the web. When unable to get online, discomgoogolation takes over.”