AMARILLO, TEXAS -- As our technology continues to evolve, as a society we're finding we are constantly connected to what's happening through social media and the internet.
But has that evolution created a new addiction?
We've come a long way from the days of dial up. Now there are tons of social media, a world fixated on Facebook, Twitter, Instragram, Google, and yes, even internet video games.
But has this new trend created a new addiction? One psychologist told us no.
"The new things coming out like Facebook, I don't think there's enough information on it yet for me to think that it's an actually disorder, I don't think its real," said Doctor James Rush, Psychologist for Texas Tech Health Science Center.
While Dr. Rush says it's not an addiction, he did say it's a new generation of technology that's making us as a society interact via text message, Facebook or Twitter, which in turn affects our social behavior.
"With computers in general, cellphones in general, I guess some people would say addicted, I guess it's just the way we're on our computers a lot we want to see what's going on with other people. Facebook might be an easier way to , it makes you feel like you're keeping up with people better than you probably are because it doesn't take very much time to keep up with people, you click one button and you're friends," said Dr. Rush.
But there's a group of people who spend hours playing video games, which Dr. Rush says could be categorized as an addiction.
"You could say instead of Facebook, video games. How many kids are on video games there's kids quote, unquote addicted to some of these role playing games online, spend their whole life on these games?"
What causes an addiction like that?
"The causes of addiction the jury is still out there. There is a biochemical component," said Dr. Rush.
So next time you think about texting an LOL, or even telling the world what you're doing, you might put that phone or laptop down and leave the social media stratosphere for a while.
Dr. Rush also says, tell anyone you think is spending too much time online to set time limits.
