Addiction is a word which has moved from the medical world into every day mentions.

“I am addicted to my ___ coffee.”

We should not be so casual about this word.

Susan Moeller, a University of Maryland journalism professor, asked 200 students to give up all media for one day.

It was withdrawal time for the participants. The study says that the students reported not being able to function well.

However, any activity which causes the symptoms these students reported needs more investigation.

What do the kids need to use the media of their generation…and still function without them in a healthy way? Nobody knows yet.

New York Times/Reuters

“American college students are hooked on cellphones, social media and the Internet and showing symptoms similar to drug and alcohol addictions, according to a new study.

“Researchers at the University of Maryland who asked 200 students to give up all media for one full day found that after 24 hours many showed signs of withdrawal, craving and anxiety along with an inability to function well without their media and social links.

“Susan Moeller, the study’s project director and a journalism professor at the university, said many students wrote about how they hated losing their media connections, which some equated to going without friends and family.” (Emphasis added)

Source: New York Times/Reuters, April 25, 2010