TV Addiction
The average television viewer will ultimately spend nine years of his or her life watching television, out of
an average lifetime of 75 years. And the viewer may become addicted. According to a study, television addicts
have the same symptoms as alcoholics or drug addicts. The research, by US scientists, says that television addiction
is real and works in the same way as habit-forming drugs. Others argue that watching television is like gambling in
the way people become addicted.
Substance dependence is defined as a disorder characterized by symptoms that include spending a great deal of time
using the substance, using it more often than they intend to, giving up social, family or job related activities to use
it, and reporting withdrawal symptoms when they stop using it.
All of these symptoms can be used to describe people who watch a lot of television. It doesn't necessarily mean watching
television is problematic. TV can provide many things, distraction, escape, plus it can teach and amuse. The problem starts
when the person knows that they should get up and do something else, but can't seem to walk away. They just simply can't
turn the television off.
Who else has an TV addiction? Find out more on our online video section at www.addictedtube.com.
Read about other addictions.