Is the Internet addictive?

A recent report has suggested that the amount of time many people spend online these days could suggest that the Internet is actually addictive.

These days, with many people now having access to broadband, going online has become a favourite pastime for many people, both old and young. Whilst older people tend to go online to look at things like the news, finance sites, travel, and other informational sites, younger people tend to opt for streaming websites such as YouTube or social networking sites such as Bebo and Facebook.

Either way people of all ages these days tend to choose to spend a lot of their spare time on the Internet rather than going out with friends, watching television, reading, or taking part in other pastimes that were once more popular. Some industry experts have said that this is because broadband has become more accessible and affordable for many people, giving them access to the world if information and entertainment that the internet has to offer.

However, another report has suggested that the rising amount of time that many people are now choosing to spend online could suggest that going online has addictive qualities. Broadband prices have been identified as being amongst the lowest in the world in the UK, and again this could be contributing to the rising number of people that are choosing to spend more time on the Internet.

It is thought that over the Christmas period many of the people that are not at work will spend a lot of their time online in the home, and many of those that are working will be getting onto their computers at work to stay in touch with loves ones and friends who are at home.