People joke about Facebook addiction but some Norwegian
researchers say it actually exists and they've come up with a test.
According to the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale there are
six warning signs and if you answer yes to four or more you're probably
addicted.
"The use of Facebook has increased rapidly. We are
dealing with a subdivision of Internet addiction connected to social
media," said Cecilie Schou Andreassen, a doctor of psychology at the University of Bergen. "It occurs more regularly
among younger than older users. We have also found that people who are anxious
and socially insecure use Facebook more than those with lower scores on those
traits, probably because those who are anxious find it easier to communicate
via social media than face-to-face"
So are you an addict?
- Do you spend a lot of time
thinking about Facebook or plan use of Facebook?
- Do you feel an urge to use
Facebook more and more?
- Do you use Facebook in order
to forget about personal problems?
- Have you tried to cut down on
the use of Facebook without success?
- Do you become restless or
troubled if you are prohibited from using Facebook?
- Do you use Facebook so much
that it has had a negative impact on your job/studies?
Read
more at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507102054.htm.
