So, what’s your addiction? Maybe it’s that tub of ice cream, waiting for you to open the freezer door and embrace it, like some long-lost relative on C’è Posta Per Te, in the glory of the little yellow freezer light. Or it’s the guilt-spiked bag of wine gums, which you buy with the planning, strategic stealth and ruthlessness of a bank heist.

But let’s define addiction first. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is, “A primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations.”

Did you understand that? No, me neither. Translated into normspeak (just like normcore, but less trendy), it’s the enjoyment of a potential future while ignoring the actual present. Like craving for your next finger-grab of salty crisps while still munching a mouthful. Or anticipating your next big game against Juventus on Fifa 15 Ultimate Team while getting dribbled around by Leyton Orient.

Hooked on internet? Help is just a click away- Author unknown

Ah, technology. Can it be addictive? Yes it can. Just ask the guy in front of you on the bus, who spends the entire trip trying out his mobile phone’s ringing tones: anything to keep his fingers in close contact with his precious touch screen. Or the 31-year-old US navy serviceman who has been treated for internet addiction.

Just in case you’ve missed the story, last week, The Guardian reported that a navy serviceman checked into the US navy’s Substance Abuse and Recovery Programme complaining of internet addiction disorder brought on by overuse of Google Glass. He also said that he was experiencing his dreams as if viewed through the device’s grey window.

The man was spending around 18 hours a day using Google Glass, only removing it to sleep and wash. Without the device, he would feel irritable and argumentative. Doctors also observed how the patient repeatedly tapped his right temple with his index finger, an involuntary mimic of switching on the heads-up display of his Google Glass.

Now let’s go beyond the debate of whether internet addiction disorder actually exists – this has been hotly debated among psychiatrists for years. Rather, let’s see whether this item makes it to your weirdest news feed. And whether your grandma will mumble how she knew that internet thing wasn’t any good the moment they got it at the day care centre.

But then, it’s not a matter of the internet or Google Glass being addictive. You can get hooked on anything, from chewing ice cubes to hoarding and collecting coupons. Just google ‘strangest additions’ and you’ll see. Actually, don’t google anything – you might get addicted to it.

techeditor@timesofmalta.com

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.