Internet addiction or problematic internet use? Which term should be used?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e190020

Keywords:

internet addiction, problematic internet use, conceptualization

Abstract

Internet use has increased exponentially worldwide. Although the use itself is not negative, since it integrates several benefits, some individuals seem to show problems related to its excessive, uncontrolled, and dysfunctional use. Therefore, the interest of researchers in exploring this use, when it is excessive and unhealthy, has been growing, especially in the last two decades. However, being a subject/construct treated by different authors with different theoretical frameworks, several terms are used in the literature to describe this phenomenon. Regarding this, this article proposes to present a literature review of two of the most used and shared concepts in the scientific literature, that is, internet addiction and problematic internet use.

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Published

2019-10-08

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Section

Articles

How to Cite

Internet addiction or problematic internet use? Which term should be used?. (2019). Psicologia USP, 30, e190020. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e190020