Researchers from the University of Surrey (Great Britain) analyzed the Internet use of 796 survey participants and compiled a new spectrum of Internet addiction.

The results of the survey showed that young people (up to 24 years old) spend an average of six hours a day on the Internet, mostly using smartphones. At the same time, users over the age of 24 are online for 4.6 hours every day. Researchers found no link between internet addiction and gender.

Based on the data received, scientists divided the participants into five categories, from which the spectrum of Internet addiction was compiled. Approximately 15% of survey respondents fall into the group of “occasional users” who access the network to perform certain tasks for work, for example. This group (average age – 33.4 years) shows no signs of Internet addiction.

The “early users” category includes 22.86% of those who were online longer than planned. The average age of representatives of this group is 26.1 years.

The third group (average age between 22.8 and 24.3) includes “experimenters” with 21.98%. They feel anxious when they do not have internet access. The fourth category includes so-called addiction deniers: they make up 17.96%, neglecting their work or responsibilities while on the Internet. The average age is 24.

The last category is 22.36% and includes “addicts.” These people openly accept internet addiction and are aware of its negative impact on life. The average age of this group is 24. Such people spend 1.6 times more time on the Internet than ordinary users.

“The younger a person is, the more likely he is to become an Internet addict, as this tendency decreases with age,” the scientists concluded. Source