An increasing variety of computer and internet possibilities creates a great number of computers addiction types. According to the Center for Online and Internet Addiction, there are several computers addiction types: cyber-sexual addiction, hyperreality addiction, cyber-relational addiction, net gaming, information overload, and non-internet computer addiction.
Cyber-sexual addiction represents an obsessive tendency to view online pornography or involve in adult fantasy role-play chat rooms. Some consider this more likely to be a sex addiction rather than an internet addiction, as these people are usually interested in pornographic video and magazines as well. The predominant use of computer for this reason can be partially explained by relatively low cost and a great variety of available pornographic materials online.
Cyber-relational addicted individuals are over-involving in online relationships and may even engage in virtual adultery. In many cases this behavior ends up in family discrepancies. Besides typical chat room addiction many people are over-interested in "computer dating". Modern online dating system incorporates a form-, video-, or audio-/phone-based component that increase the possibilities of communication. Excitement produced by online dating and looking for a match can become obsessive to individuals, especially to those who have certain problems in real dating.
Net gaming comprises a wide range of behaviors including online gambling, gaming, shopping, and stock trading behaviors. There are a lot of attractive online casinos, interactive games, e-auction houses, and e-brokerage houses that make a lot of people lose their time and money. Considering the hazardous nature of human being this can be quite a profitable business, less for the gamers.
The next one of the computers addiction types is the information overload. This includes excessive web surfing and database searching. The huge amount of interesting information available on the net, attractive titles and a big number of links can determine individuals spend more and more time searching and collecting data from the web and organizing information.
An interesting phenomenon, called simply computer addiction, was observed in the 80s. Obsessive playing of such computer games like Solitaire and Minesweeper became a serious problem in different organizational settings. So computer addiction is not necessarily overlapping with the internet addiction as these games are not played online and are not interactive.
The most dangerous of the computers addiction types is video games addiction and hyper-reality addiction, as these affect very young individuals, usually preteens. This can create different difficulties in their entire personality development, lacks in further communications and problematic establishment of normal relationships. Also this addiction affects their physical evolution as the sports and normal physical activity is limited.
Some are concerned with the negative influence of virtual violence that is present in most popular computer games. Others consider computer gaming to be a useful occupation as it can promote strategic and critical thinking. But once video gaming interferes with work or school, disturbs family or personal relationships and becomes increasingly necessary, once it becomes an addiction, it would bring more harm than advantage.