DSM-worthy or not, too much Internet can’t be healthy

SmartBrief on ExecTech | 08/25/2009

Perhaps “Internet Addiction Disorder” is not much different from “addiction” to mystery novels, crossword puzzles or sudoku. Or maybe the medium does take a neurophysiological toll on some heavy users, requiring special intervention to overcome. A lot more research probably needs to be done. In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt many of us to spend a little less time glued to the laptop or smartphone and a little more time moving about outside. This is especially true for the young set, which is showing an alarming vitamin D deficiency from a dearth of sun exposure, as well as a high incidence of obesity. But if anyone ever offers a rehab program designed specifically for addicts of the insidious solitaire program that Microsoft foists on us when we buy Windows, sign me up. —Caron Carlson, SmartBrief on ExecTech contributing editor