Facebook Addiction Disorder

Facebook is one of the top most used social networking site in the United States. Due to its popularity it has created an addiction and now a disorder. An American psychologist introduced this disorder as the Facebook Addiction Disorder also known as FAD. It is a condition where several hours are spent on Facebook where it affects one's health and daily activity. Approximately 350 million people are suffering from this disorder. There are six major symptoms that are classified with FAD. 

1. Tolerance: They spend an increasing amount of time on the site, coming to a stage where they need it in order to obtain satisfaction or on the other extreme, it is having a detrimental affect on them as a person and their life.
2. Withdrawal symptoms: Common signs are anxiety, distress and the need to talk about Facebook and what might have been posted on their wall in their absence.
3. Reduction of normal social/recreational activities: Someone suffering from FAD will reduce the time spent catching up with friends, playing sport or whatever it is they used to enjoy doing, to simply spend time on Facebook. 
4. Virtual dates: Instead of going to the movies or out to dinner, they tell their partner to be online at a certain time.
5. Fake friends: If 8 out of 10 people shown on their Facebook page are complete strangers.
6. Complete addiction: When they meet new people, they say their name, followed by “I’ll talk to you on Facebook”, or for those who are extremely bad, “I’ll see you in Facebook”. 

These are all symptoms that relate to FAD and are used to diagnose a person with FAD and it is considered a mental disorder. 

Angeli O'Day

9/20/12

[Source: Social Times]