Internet addiction defined in China, entire Engadget staff now officially certifiable
By Tim Stevens 
posted November 10th 2008 9:11AM
posted November 10th 2008 9:11AM
While American psychiatrists continue to debate whether an unhealthy affinity for all things online is really an illness or just a passing fancy, their Chinese counterparts have made up their minds. After creating halfway-houses and clinics to wean netizens off of their dependency, doctors there have now drafted an official classification of internet addiction for people who spend six hours or more online daily. The affliction's symptoms include poor sleep, irritability, mental distress, and (surprise, surprise) a "yearning to be online" -- a condition that we typically call "visiting the in-laws." We're not entirely sure if this means that Chinese physicians can now subject anyone who is symptomatic to mandated shock therapy, but we've gone ahead and indefinitely postponed our 2009 Shanghai meet up just to be safe.
From what I read from Chinese media over these years, what they mean by "Internet addiction" should not include Internet use in work. Moreover, Joe Anstine's right on that by general Chinese definition, an Internet addict play online games all day. People who frequent BBSs for hours usually doesn't count.
If 6 hours is addiction then what about my 11~hours a day?
I'll get off the internet soon, I just haven't finished it yet.
Did it ever occur to anyone that the reason the internet is so huge right now is because our educations sucked and the ability to know more has never been easier? It's information! Tell that to the bookworm who has read over 1000+ books in their lifetime. Quick, someone commit them for 'book addiction'! They aren't in control of themselves! Post armed guards at the libraries and install surveilence cameras!
And don't make the "illicit material in the internet" argument. Have you read a romance novel lately?
Communism loves to over react whenever a human acts human... anyone seen the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony? I've never seen so many humans appear to be mechanically synced... Impressive.
Not to mention China pitched a fit with Google until they censored all results.
"Big Brother, can we surf?"
"No, you have gone over your information credits for the month."
"But it was just Wikipedia."
So then engadget china employees get arrested just for showing up to work?
it's pretty sad how bad the addiction to internet is. go outside and enjoy life.
but, but its cold out
Those who spend large amounts of time on the internet, are truly just using it to escape reality, whether they choose to realize it or not (after all, they are escaping reality). What they really need, is a personal even scheduler, or friends to keep them social and active. I believe that if a child spends too much time on the internet, it is actually the parents fault, and they need to step up and not only limit their activity, but give them something else to do.
Actually, it depends, I spend around 4-6 hrs a day, but, I use the computer for many things, writing, reading, composing, reading (I don't specially like this, it's tiresome, I sincerely prefer books), I don't even see TV, I just enjoy a lot more seeing things trough the internet.
If the only thing the kid does is watching youtube and playing call of duty, yes, then you're right, it's their parents fault, otherwise, it's a tool.