problematic computer use or pathological computer use, is excessive computer use that interferes with daily life. These terms avoid the distracting and divisive term
addiction and are not limited to any single cause.
IAD was originally proposed as a
disorder in a
satirical hoax by
Ivan Goldberg, M.D., in 1995.He took
pathological gambling as diagnosed by the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (
DSM-IV) as his model for the description of IAD. It is not however included in the current DSM as of 2009. IAD receives coverage in the press, and possible future classification as a psychological disorder continues to be debated and researched.
Online activities which, if done in person, would normally be considered troublesome, such as compulsive gambling or shopping, are sometimes called net compulsions.Others, such as reading or playing computer games, are troubling only to the extent that these activities interfere with normal life. Supporters of disorder classification often divide IAD into subtypes by activity, such as excessive, overwhelming, or inappropriate
pornography use,
gaming, online
social networking,
blogging,email, or Internet
shopping. Opponents note that compulsive behaviors may not themselves be addictive.
