So the definition of addiction is a repeated behavior that you know is causing your problems and you know you should stop but you can’t make yourself stop. Internet addiction is absolutely not a joke and never was. It doesn’t devalue the concept at all. That’s what it is. Addiction often ties in with substance dependence, but not necessarily.
That said, a lot of people do misuse the word addiction, if you use the phone a lot but it’s not causing problems in your life then it’s not addiction.
So the definition of addiction is a repeated behavior that you know is causing your problems and you know you should stop but you can’t make yourself stop. Internet addiction is absolutely not a joke and never was. It doesn’t devalue the concept at all. That’s what it is. Addiction often ties in with substance dependence, but not necessarily.
That said, a lot of people do misuse the word addiction, if you use the phone a lot but it’s not causing problems in your life then it’s not addiction.