Why do we label anything that is new an “addiction”?

Published December 28, 2013

Question by Question Mark: Why do we label anything that is new an “addiction”?
I would like to know, any new technology that comes out such as Television, Video Games, The Internet, and so on is labeled as a addiction. To me this is nothing more than a Moral Panic. I don’t believe in the idea of video game addiction or Internet Addiction or Television addiction. If these things are truly addictive than we should probably label Electricity as an addiction as well. But why are we so quick to label things as an addiction? I’m sure you are wearing clothes so that must be addictive right? You would probably have withdrawal symptoms from not wearing clothing. So why is everything else considered an addiction?

Best answer:

Answer by ChiMom
I think what they mean is when a person’s life is taken over by doing an activity, such as spending 12 hrs a day watching tv, etc–Neglecting other business they should be attending to. There are some who go without eating, sleeping, bathing, etc becausr they cannot stop .