O’Brien says children’s social skills need more work today due to the amount of screen time they spend on their Wii, PSP, X-Box and on the Internet, to name a few. Thankfully, children are so easily adaptable they can be weaned off of such electronics, according to an article on the Daily Telegraph. O’Brien says their clinic has a program for communication and social skills that teaches children how to interact with others by joining groups and learning such basic skills as taking turns.

Experts say it is important to make the transition easier by being prepared for change. Parents need to set certain boundaries to prepare children for school with set bedtimes and limits when it comes to electronics and screen time. As both children and parents prepare for the school year, there needs to be rules in place with appropriate bedtimes and screen times that limit their exposure. Familiarity is a great way to ward off such fears, especially for those starting kindergarten or changing schools. It’s important to go over routines and practice things such as getting dressed and packing school lunches before the first day comes. It also helps to organize play dates for your children during the summer or over holidays. Be sure to visit the school beforehand so your child is more familiar and knows their way around.

Kids are much more resilient than adults and if you help encourage them and prepare them, you will help to ease some of the unnecessary stress that comes with change.

In Science Daily, a recent article suggests that there are other factors that increase the risk of alcohol onset among teens such as age, race, team sports and their position in the social network arena. The study further found that being in close proximity to the most popular peers was a definite factor in the onset of drinking. The study surveyed over 2,600 students in 7th through 11th grade from 1995 to 1996 and also interviewed their parents in two different groups.

The study showed that the density of the networks magnified the spread of influence among the adolescents and also amplified the dynamics. The findings also suggest that limiting the size of these social peer groupings may have a positive influence on delaying the onset of alcohol usage. Some experts argue that smaller schools and their ability to provide a smaller group of peers could be positive in decreasing this problem.

Fascinating enough is the new era of social networks online popping up such as GroupMe, Path and Rally Up, which all focus on limiting the size of friendship groups. The study also pointed out the role parents play in their children’s’ lives. Having family fun together is beneficial to delaying the onset of alcohol use. Results parallel previous studies that show low family interaction and drinking among parents are further linked to initial alcohol usage.

Researchers hope to explore more ways to understand how the density of online social activity influences and increases this problem among adolescents.

Intersperience, a British consumer research group, asked 1,000 people in England to forgo all digital media for a 24-hour period in an effort to determine the extent of emotional connection to technology. The results of their study were made public and then reported in the London Press. The study participants were instructed to unplug and avoid all digital media and technology for a full day. This included Internet access, mobile/smart phones, tablets and television.

The participants were questioned about their feelings during the digital-free day:

• The majority (53%) reported feeling “upset” by the experience.
• Nearly half (40%) admitted to a feeling of “loneliness”‘ when deprived of technology for even one day.
• A substantial number of respondents confessed that the separation anxiety was too great and that they had “cheated.”
• At least one participant was reported as describing technology deprivation as their “biggest nightmare.”

Another similar study conducted at the University of Maryland’s International Center for Media and the Public Agenda suggests that the phenomenon is global. This study made a similar request of university students. The students involved represented an international body. These students reported similar emotional experiences to those recorded by the British Consumer Research group.

Students, hailing from a variety of home countries, reported feeling anxious and depressed without their digital media devices and online connections. The desire to be linked digitally with others was so intense that when the students were instructed to write down and record their 24-hour experience, they frequently used the word “addiction” to describe the sense of deprivation.

A smaller percentage of respondents in the British study said that far from experiencing cravings or depression and loneliness, a day without technology yielded instead a feeling of “freedom.” About 23% of those involved in the study said that being without digital media was liberating.

There has been insufficient research on the subject to make definitive conclusions about the interrelationship of human emotion and Internet use. It is certain that technology is encroaching on more and more of people’s everyday lives. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimated that in 2010, approximately 2.1 billion people around the world were connected to the Internet. Further research is required to determine the nuances of what seems to be a growing technological dependency.

In a recent report on Science Daily researchers shared their concerns about so-called "checking habits" of smartphone users throughout the waking hours. They found that a considerable amount of time is made up of constant checking on people’s smartphones. Checking includes reading your emails while commuting or checking the news because you are bored. Even though there are constant checking behaviors, users did not feel they had become addicted but rather just overused their smartphone.

The typical checking time lasts under 30 seconds and merely consists of opening your screen lock and entering a single application. But habits might change in the future as more "rewards" are given to these smartphones.

Recent data from this study was collected from Finland and the United States, showing that these repetitive type of checks consisted of checking the menu screen, emails, contacts, news, and social apps, such as Facebook or other friend streams. If more rewards are provided and access is quick and easy, this can lead to addictive behaviors. Researchers noted that if the user formed a habit with one application it might increase their habit development for another similar application.

Authors concluded that this promotion of habit-forming applications has both positive and negative influences. On the one hand, content is more readily available and the developers are making the smartphone more useful. On the other hand, these habits take over a person’s down time, which takes away from family and relaxation.

Borderline Personality Disorder and Interpersonal Vulnerability

Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by difficulties within relationships and with regard to the social environment. Generally, these issues are considered to originate in deeply held fears of abandonment, frantic efforts to avoid abandonment and an unstable sense of self. Typically, those with this disorder tend to enter into relationships quickly and intensely. Involvements are frequently impulsive with intimacy achieved rapidly and often without much information about the partner. For these reasons, individuals with this disorder are vulnerable to interpersonal victimization such as domestic violence, sexual assault and other types of exploitation.

The tendency to impulsively enter relationships can lead to disclosure of personal information that jeopardizes physical safety, but also emotional and psychological safety can be jeopardized with quick involvements. The deeply felt need for love and approval can foster a fantasy of ‘rescue’ from loneliness and lead to an unfounded belief, for example, that ‘true love’ has been found. Judgment about relationships and intimacy can be further compromised by the anonymity of social media sites and the ability of others to manipulate interactions. Long distance ‘love affairs’ are not uncommon for those with Borderline Personality Disorders and can result in ill-founded and premature commitments and life disruptions such as relocation, engagements and allowing another to move in. Disappointments, mental and emotional instability and even safety risks can be acutely disorganizing when the reality of such involvements become clear.

Distorted Perceptions of Relationship Dynamics

The deeply held and often desperate need for companionship, relationship, approval and acceptance can lead to equally desperate, or at times frantic, behavior on social media sites. One of the characteristics of Borderline Personality Disorder is that abandonment or rejection does not have to actually occur in order to trigger feelings of panic and desperation. Even the perception of abandonment or rejection can trigger an increase in symptoms for those with this disorder. For example, a usual ‘friend’ on Facebook may not respond promptly to a comment or message. An individual with this condition may perceive this as evidence of abandonment or rejection when none of this was intended. This tendency to perceive abandonment and rejection leads to scrutinizing the behaviors of others and projecting one’s own fears and fantasies into the situation and other person. This makes a clear understanding of another’s intentions, motives and behaviors difficult to achieve. This is further complicated by the difficulty of discerning these things in interactions on the Internet and often, over long distances, as well.

Black and White Thinking

Another characteristic of Borderline Personality Disorder is the tendency to have ‘black and white’ thinking in relationships or to either idealize or disparage another person—to see someone as either good or bad and nothing in between. This type of thinking is problematic in many ways. It impairs an accurate assessment of another and a relationship because both pro’s and con’s cannot be weighed together for analysis. In such a thinking pattern one fluctuates between seeing the pro’s or positives at one time and seeing the con’s or negatives at another. It is very difficult to consider both extremes at the same time in order to make a realistic appraisal of the situation, person or relationship. Consequently, for example, judgment is impaired by a tendency to dismiss negative characteristics and warning signs and to idealize another person as if no negatives or warning signs existed. This type of thinking makes those with Borderline Personality Disorder susceptible to manipulation, deception and the predatory behavior of others. 

Impulsivity

Another characteristic of Borderline Personality Disorder is the tendency to act out in impulsive and self-sabotaging ways when feeling distressed. Many with this disorder will even engage in self-harming behavior such as self-injuries caused by cutting or burning themselves when there is a high level of anxiety or emotional pain.

Mood swings are also common in this disorder and there can be periods of intense anger that lead to aggression. When perceiving rejection by others, or when actually rejected due to inappropriate behavior, for example, social media sites can be used to express anger, engage in conflict, shaming and attempts to ‘rally’ support for the bullying and rejection of another in retaliation.

The nature of social media sites which allow unlimited postings is conducive to outbursts of anger and social aggression that are fueled by intensified negative perceptions and emotions about another. These outbursts can be followed by periods of deep shame, guilt and remorse which further reinforce negative feelings about the self, unstable emotions and the likelihood that more acting out will occur. Such a cycle of intensified negative emotions and emotional behavior can trigger the impulse to self-harm and even suicidal thoughts and impulses.

Emotional Disclosure and Solicitation of Assistance

Akin to angry acting out is the tendency for those with Borderline Personality Disorder to over disclose about negative emotional states and thoughts. When symptoms are intensified some use social media sites to state their self-destructive thoughts and tendencies and attempt to solicit support and intimacy from their online “friends”. Such an episode can be distressing to others involved, even alarming, and amount to a form of emotional and psychological abuse and manipulation of the others involved. Statements about self-harm or suicide to online “friends” can divert successful efforts to gain support from appropriate sources and lead to increase instability. The consequences of a public online display of such symptoms can be actual rejection which further complicates the negative emotional reaction and poor self-image already had by someone with this disorder.

A new study shows that the concern over Internet use is warranted. College students engage in pathological Internet use at a high rate, and as with any other pathological behavior, there can be a breakdown in social and family relationships, as well as academic and professional achievement.

The study, led by Dr. Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, was recently published online in BMC Medicine. Its results show that pathological Internet use in college is very common and is often associated with depression in a group that has extensive use of the Internet.

Because pathological use of the Internet is a growing concern, the researchers sought to determine whether it causes problems for college students, who tend to be at a higher risk for behavioral addictions than the general population. The participants consisted of 224 eligible college students from two universities in the United States.

The students were asked to complete a survey which included the Internet Addiction Test and the Patient Health Questionnaire. The survey was designed to measure problematic Internet usage and its possible association with moderate to severe depression.

The researchers found that Internet use among college students was prevalent enough to be a significant concern, with many students requiring intervention and treatment. In fact, the study revealed that four percent of students who completed the survey met the criteria for occasional problem or addicted range on the IAT.

The percentage of those struggling with Internet use is lower in this study when compared to some previous research, but the figure represents problematic Internet usage. The study’s results also showed a significant association between pathological Internet use and depression in college students.

The study’s findings show that it may be beneficial for administrators to consider including prevention education about problematic Internet usage in orientation presentations. Dr. Christakis, of the Seattle Children’s Research Institute, cautions that because the Internet is so much a part of the lives of the generation currently in college, campuses should be aware of the extensive exposure these students have to the Internet as they enter college.

Parents who notice that their teens are likely to spend many consecutive hours on the Internet if not given boundaries should be aware of the risk to their child as they enter college life. Students should be warned about the risks of pathological Internet use.

A controversial new study examines another aspect of Internet addiction that may show a connection to violence. While the study is being met with criticism from American researchers, its results indicate that the association requires additional research.

Those addicted to the Internet can spend hour upon hour at the computer, creating problems with lack of sleep and proper nutrition and exercise. For teens struggling with an Internet addiction, however, more serious problems can occur. In a report published in Science Daily, Taiwanese researchers released findings that suggest Internet-addicted teens are more prone to aggression than other adolescents.

Despite criticism from American researchers, Taiwanese scientists say that the findings warrant a closer monitoring of Internet use by parents. While it is difficult to find fault with this suggestion, the research behind it is not well-supported, according to American researchers.

The problem with the study, say critics, is that it does not establish causality between the two components, though the research states, “that persons who play violent video games will be more prone to have aggressive thoughts, feelings and actions.”

The mental health community is not consistent in recognizing Internet addiction as a diagnosis for pathological Internet use. It may be that the behaviors associated with Internet addiction are actually attributable to a different disorder. Ultimately, the various nuances of Internet addiction have not been fully explored. Therefore, using Internet addiction as a possible “scapegoat” for aggressive behavior may not be appropriate.

The study led by Chih-Hung Ko, M.D. from Kaohsiung Medical University examined students and found that 25 percent of the male students and 13 percent of females were addicted to the Internet. The findings reported that 37 percent of those suffering from Internet addiction had also participated in aggressive behavior.

Critics caution that the results simply show a connection, but not causality. Further research may reveal, instead, that aggressive people are more likely to become Internet addicts. Or, a third factor may be causing both aggression and Internet addiction, such as a type of social disorder that makes a person more comfortable interacting with people over the Internet, but also makes them act aggressively in social situations.
 

When we think addiction, we often think about drugs or alcohol and the impact they can have on an individual. For a number of people, however, the addiction that can be all-consuming has nothing to do with drugs or alcohol. The addiction could easily be the Internet, gambling or even Facebook.

While it may seem almost comical, Facebook is becoming an addiction. According to a recent IT Proportal report, this addiction is rising among women. This finding was the result of a study conducted by Oxygen Media and Lightspeed Research which examined 1,605 adults using the social networking site between May and June of this year.

Of the studied individuals, 21 percent of women report checking their Facebook profiles in the middle of the night. Another 20 percent of women report that checking Facebook is the first thing they do in the morning.

The study also revealed that while 57 percent of women report that they prefer to meet their Facebook friends face-to-face; another 31 percent actually prefer that these friendships are maintained online instead.

One alarming finding in this study is that 42 percent of the women participating believe it is fine to post drunken pictures on Facebook and a staggering 79 percent report no problem with posting intimate photos on the site. Interestingly, 63 percent of this same group of women uses Facebook for their carrier and networking.
 

Look at the Numbers

MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/pressroom?url=/fact+sheet/) boasts that one quarter of all Americans is on the site (more than 70 million unique users) – and that 300,000 more join each day. Launched in 2004, the site has more than 113 million active users worldwide.

Founded in 2004, Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics) now has more than 400 million active users, with 50 percent logging onto Facebook on any given day. People spend more than 500 billion minutes (you read that right, billion) on Facebook per month. More than 25 billion pieces of content (web links, blog posts, news links, photo albums, notes, etc.) are shared each month. There are more than 100 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices. In addition, mobile Facebook active users are twice as active on the site than non-mobile Facebook users.

Communicating Via Facebook

Since the big gorilla in the room is Facebook, let’s take a look at how users communicate using the social networking site.
According to Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook chief operating officer (http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=72975227130), the average Facebook user has 120 confirmed friend connections (data from the Facebook press room says the number is 130). But since this number doesn’t take into account all the different relationships people have in their lives, the folks on the Facebook Data Team dove in to figure out a solution. They came up with what they term an “active network,” which consists of all the people with whom users stay up to date. Obviously, an active network implies action, and it’s different that the ways users communicate with friends on other types of networks.

On Facebook, there’s reciprocal communication – trading messages back and forth. This can be accomplished using a Wall-to-Wall exchange or a real-time chat. There’s also direct communication – sending a message to a specific person whether or not you expect a reply. You can do this through direct one-way inbox message or a Wall post. But the newest Facebook method – designed to get you connected to even more of your friends – is the stream. Every time a user logs into their Facebook home page, they see a running timeline or stream of information their friends are sharing as well as all the other things the user is connected to on Facebook. The more people user share, the more information that comes in on a non-stop basis.

Here’s where it gets interesting. According to Facebook, stream communication forms your active network. Whenever a user interacts with a story in the stream, say they “Like” the content, comment on it, or just click on it, the person who shared the content instantly becomes part of the user’s active network. On any given month, according to the organization’s Data Team, users keep up with between 2 and 4 times more people using the active network than through more traditional communication.
It’s easy to see how users can get lost just following the stream, replying to messages, posting on the Wall, or getting up-to-speed on friends’ comings and goings.

For its part, Facebook claims that with this greater connectedness comes the ability for people to extend their influence to others with amazing speed and efficiency. Take, for example, organizing events on a mass scale or spreading information. Facebook’s advertising follows a similar pattern.

How Users Get Addicted

Granted, staying in touch with friends is a good thing to do. The more isolated you are, the more attractive social networking sites become. And even though users say they realize it’s not face-to-face, they swear it’s the next best thing. But things have just mushroomed to the point where there’s no stopping the instant stream of messages, photos, comments, postings, blogs, sharing of stories, etc. ad infinitum. How can a person ever get anything else done when all they’re doing is trying to stay on top of what’s going on with their friends and expanded, extended network?

Psychiatrists say users of social networking sites are extending their sense of identity, their sense of self. But these same psychiatrists also say they’re treating patients who use the Internet excessively – 30 to 40 hours plus each week. Some studies have found that the number of Internet addicts is in the millions.

Not surprisingly, social networking honchos say it’s more a matter of substitution. Users of MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and others, are going on the sites as opposed to watching television. Too much of anything can be addicting, whether it is alcohol, drugs, food, work, gambling, sex, or social networking.

What happens is that it starts with the simple desire to stay in touch with friends. You sign up on Facebook or MySpace or another social networking site, create your profile, work your magic on customizing pages, send out invites to others to add you as a friend, and off you go. Before long, according to many users, you find yourself connecting with many more people than you otherwise would. And this is where all that instant connectivity starts to have a down side.

Some call it a type of stalking. Curiosity about what someone’s doing may start innocently enough, but it can easily get out of hand. Users report that they often find themselves trying to follow their friends’ every move online. This can not only be time-consuming, it’s also unhealthy.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) (http://www.psych.org/MainMenu/Newsroom/NewsReleases/2010-News-Releases/DSM-5-Proposed-Revisions-Include-New-Category-of-Addiction-and-Related-Disorders.aspx), which will study and review proposed criteria for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – DSM-V – for the next two years, considered adding Internet addiction to the new behavioral addictions category, but has decided to recommend it be included in the manual’s index instead. The goal is to encourage additional study, since there is currently insufficient research data to put it in with behavioral addiction. But the APA does recognize the significant effect that Internet addiction is having on people. Interestingly, the APA markets its presence on Facebook and Twitter on its website.

Signs of Addiction to Social Networking Sites

There are clues that you – or someone you care about – are addicted to social networking sites. The first, and most obvious, is that you can’t function in your everyday life without them. If you can’t last a half hour without checking your Facebook page or responding via Twitter, then you know you’ve got a problem.

CNN Health recently posted a story about clues to Facebook addiction (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/23/ep.facebook.addict/index.html). While they are briefly listed here, they apply to more than just Facebook. Just substitute the name of any other social networking site.

You know you are addicted to Facebook (or Twitter, or MySpace, etc.), if you:

• Lose sleep over the site – Staying up all night (or the better part of it), trying to connect and write your most clever thoughts on your Wall, will really eat into your energy level. You’ll find yourself dragging through the next day, unable to concentrate on whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing – not a good thing, and certainly not conducive to overall mental and/or physical well-being.

• Spend more than an hour a day on Facebook – The compulsion to be on the site for hours on end is just that: compulsive behavior. You shouldn’t need to be on the site for more than 30 minutes – one hour maximum.

• Become obsessed with old loves – While it’s natural to wonder whatever happened to your old flame from high school or college, when you start trying to dig up and possibly rekindle old loves, you may wind up in addiction territory. First of all, it’s easy to reminisce with someone who’s not face-to-face. As with all Internet communication, it’s just too easy to let slip some inadvertent (and inappropriate) comments about the state of your life right now, how miserable or lonely your marriage or current relationship is, pining over old times, wondering what if, and so on. Don’t think that all of this stays private. Many a marriage (and relationship) has ended as a result of such communication getting back to the other party.

• Ignore work in favor of Facebook – Sneaking onto your Facebook home page while you’re supposed to be working will sooner or later land you in hot water. Not only are you not paying attention to work you’re supposed to be doing, you’re being a thief with time. That’s what happens with addictions: Users become obsessed with the behavior to the exclusion of all else.

• The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in a cold sweat – If it was alcohol or drugs, suddenly quitting would soon result in withdrawal symptoms, including a cold sweat. It’s the same thing with stopping Facebook addiction cold turkey. Experts say that you should try to stay off your social networking site of choice for a single day. If you become stressed out, anxious, or depressed, you should get some professional help. You very well may be addicted.

How to Prevent Addiction to Social Networking Sites

Okay, enough about the warnings. What can you do to actually prevent becoming addicted to social networking sites? Here are a few tips. Some are fairly obvious, while others may leave you feeling a bit edgy. Remember, you have to first recognize the behavior as addictive before you can decide it’s necessary for you to do something to prevent becoming an addict. Denial and justification for your actions is a sure sign you’re already addicted.

• Set limits for yourself: In the early days of the Internet, way back in the mid-1990s, people accessing the web found themselves getting lost in the endless data links. Then came email and a new way to connect. Experts in business productivity recommended that people set aside a certain time of day to access email, and to avoid other times, since it’s so easy to become mired in non-stop communication. Enter social networking sites and the always-accessible siren call, and you can see how setting limits becomes even more important. Remember that social networking sites are a leisure activity. This isn’t something you have to do.

• Limit memberships: Who needs memberships in a dozen different social networking sites, anyway? Drop it down to two sites that do the same thing. You don’t need Facebook and MySpace, for example. Be sure to use discretion and the aforementioned time limits while using them.

• Disable email alerts: While this should be a no-brainer, it’s amazing how many people can’t force themselves to turn off instant notification when they get a message from a friend posted on their site. It’s just too enticing to see what so and so has to say. It might be important. Think about all the friends you have in your network (or your active network, the new Facebook time-leach). Add in all the alerts of messages from these friends and you’ll wind up spending all your time just checking and responding and checking and responding… and getting nothing else done.

• Close out browser windows to these sites: Out of sight, out of mind – maybe. Too many users leave multiple windows open on their computers, including browser windows to social networking sites. Close them out. That way, you can cut down on your urges and cravings to connect.

• Forget mobile apps to social networking sites: Do you really need to be tethered to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and others on your mobile device? Sure, there are apps available that promise to link you instantly – the newest ones make them all available simultaneously – but isn’t this really overkill? If you’re already close to being addicted to Facebook, for example, using mobile apps to stay in the loop will just put you over the edge. Resist the urge to go for mobile apps to social networking sites. If you already have them, get rid of them.

• Reconnect with friends and family real-time: If you really want to communicate, there’s no better way to do it than spending some quality time face-to-face with family and friends. When you’re in their presence, laughing, recreating, having a meal or just plain fun, you’re not obsessing over taking cool pictures or composing witty comments or following the latest antics of one of your cadre of social networking friends.

• Engage in physical exercise: If you spend all your time on Facebook or Twitter or other social networking sites, chances are you’re oblivious to what’s going on in the real world. It’s also highly likely that you’re a bit under-exercised, possibly sun-deprived, and definitely in need of getting outside for some fresh air. Don’t use the argument that you can walk and connect at the same time. That’s defeating the purpose. Besides, you might get hit by a vehicle crossing the street – hey, it’s not the driver’s fault you’re a bonehead.

• Enjoy real life, not a replacement life: Getting bogged down checking up on all your friends means you’re spending all your time in pseudo-life and not real life. It’s too easy to start using social networking sites as a replacement for living instead of actually spending time to improve the quality of their lives. Instead of avoiding life by being a slave to social networking sites, get out and enjoy life.

• Leave your mobile device turned off in gatherings: How annoying it is to be at a party or gathering and see someone furiously typing away a message (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) instead of actually communicating with the people all around him or her? Such addictive behavior will really put a crimp in anyone’s social skills. Stop hiding behind your mobile device and your Facebook addiction and get out there and mingle.

Social Networking is Fine in Moderation

Bottom line: Social networking is a great concept and is fine in moderation. Just be sure to use your time productively, set limits, reconnect with family and friends in real-time, and be alert to signs that you’re stepping over the line from casual use to addiction.

One final thought: It might be nice to go on a trip where you’re totally unconnected. In the old days, they’d call it disconnect from the stresses of work. No TV, no phone, no Internet, no newspaper – just relaxing on the beach or hitting the slopes or fishing or whatever. How great is that? Try it sometime. You’ll come back refreshed and totally relaxed. Besides, the social network will be there waiting on your return. Need more convincing? Just think of it this way: You’ll have so much more to talk about (and probably some very cool photos, too).

Retrevo, a consumer electronics shopping and review site recently released this study of 1,000 Americans that showed that many people appear to be obsessed with trading information with friends, family and co-workers.

Andrew Eisner, Retrevo’s director of Community and Content, noted that the Retrevo Gadgetology study showed that 48 percent of those polled say they update Facebook or Twitter during the night or as soon as they wake up. Another 19 percent of people under the age of 25 say they update Facebook or Twitter any time they happen to wake up in the middle of the night and 11 percent over the age of 25 do the same thing.

The study also found that 42 percent of these participants check Facebook or Twitter first thing in the morning. In fact, 28 percent of iPhone users say they do it before they even get out of bed.

“Among social media users, it appears almost half are so involved with Facebook and Twitter that they check in the first thing in the morning,” said Eisner in the report. “With 16% of social media users saying this is how they get their morning news, could we be witnessing the first signs of social media services beginning to replace Good Morning America as the source for what’s going on in the world?”

While Retrevo representatives highlight they are not qualified to declare this a societal issue, they do point to the fact that almost half of social media users are waking up in the middle of the night to interact – it is worth investigating for the possibility of an addiction.