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Internet Addiction can be viewed as a global issue affecting many parts of the world. Specifically, Internet addiction can be seen in Canada. While most adolescents make reasonable use of the Internet, some lose control and their use becomes so excessive that it is often qualified as Internet addiction (IA). This study takes place in Quebec, Canada, where researchers look particularly into adolescents and analyze their Internet usage in order to determine whether or not they may or may not be clinically addicted to the Internet. With adolescents growing along with the digital age of technology, Internet usage may be used tremendously more than other particular age groups.

The Internet
The Internet consists of a globally integrated computer network which provides a variety of information and communication based functions as well as interconnected networks. A comparison of Internet World reveals contrasting visions of the Internet as a pathway of commerce dominated by large companies versus a series of places where citizens share information and build community. The Internet has become dominant through the advancement of technology in which new media now dominates.

Addiction
With the Internet continuously growing at a fast rate, many users may find themselves extremely attached to it. On a day-to-day basis people are on their cellular devices, laptops, iPads, and so on so forth browsing the Internet. It has become a way for users to stay connected with one another, a form of self-expression and a process of relaxation as well as leisure. Despite the advantages the Internet provides, it also caused many users to grow dependent and addicted to cyberspace. Addiction implies that people have urges or cravings that make it difficult to control or manage their behaviour. Generally, addiction involves a person growing tremendously reliant on a specific commodity. This commodity can typically vary between drugs, alcohol, sex, and the Internet. A Marquette University report on Internet use determined that 89% of survey participants exhibited addition-like behaviour at some point. Internet addiction emerged as a new clinical form of addiction, with a vast amount of people growing heavily dependent on the Internet itself.

Internet Addiction
Internet Addiction is defined as a disorder, in which an individual's focus is primarily on internet connection and does not necessarily need a form of drug or substance in order to become dependent on the world wide web. Internet users may become reliant on their technological devices, such as their cellphones, iPads, laptops and etcetera, that assist users to connect to the Internet from any part of the world. According to Sulaiman Ainin, Noor Ismawati Jaafar, Muhammad Ashraf and Farzana Parveen, the Internet addiction disorder emerged for the first time in 1996 which was introduced by Goldberg (1996) who related it to substance dependence.

Video Game Addiction in Canada
Video Game Addiction is the excessive use of video gaming that affects one's every day life. In general, video games are electronic gaming systems that have the ability to control images such as characters and geographical surroundings through controllers. The word "video" comes from the Latin word, video, meaning "I see." Whereas the word "game" comes from the Old English games, meaning "joy fun; amusement." Video Game Addiction can cause video gamers to neglect daily routines and necessities such as eating, bathing, and sleeping. Due to this, users tend to isolate themselves from others, their family, friends, and spend excessively long hours or days glued to their screen and controller. Although, video game addiction is still widely questioned in terms of whether or not it is considered a medical condition. One social worker at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Lisa Pont, stated that, "Some people think it trivializes other diseases. People think, 'Oh my God, how can you get addicted to gaming? Just put [the controller] down,' or like, 'Please, then anything can be a disease.'" Numerous people question the validity of video game addiction and are often skeptical of the notion of an individual being solely dependent on video games. As well as how they cannot simply turn the game off and continue with every day life. Mark D. Griffiths, Daria J. Kuss, and Daniel L King shared their findings on video game addiction, supporting the fact that there is a deficient amount of assistance towards gaming addicts. "The lack of comparative treatment studies might suggest that there is a general lack of demand for psychological services for problematic video game play and/or video game addiction." In spite of the fact that the belief of video gaming is not deemed an addiction, Pont then continued to explain why video game addiction should at least be considered and taken more seriously. "But I've been seeing people coming to CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) for treatment for almost 10 years, so whether it was an official diagnosis or not, we could observe people were having problems with [video games] and we needed to respond to those problems... I don't think we're 100 per cent all in agreement on what the conceptualization of it is, but there are definite themes and phenomenon that seem to be consistent." Ultimately, there have been opposing stances and perspectives regarding the legitimacy of video gaming addiction being a medical sanction condition. The CAMH presented a 2016 study which determined that 13% of Ontario students have encountered signs and indications of video game addiction that increased from 9% in 2007. This analysis demonstrates a rise in video game addiction within Ontario, and notably urges skeptics to take this form of addiction more seriously.



In connection to this, the American Psychiatric Association had taken "internet gaming disorder" into further consideration and examination but have not been actively utilizing this research since the year of 2013. Although it has been demonstrated that internet-gaming addiction is evidently increasing in concern within youth as well as adolescents in Ontario, not as much research has been executed in order to assist in the validation of video game addiction. Studies suggest that this can lead to numerous users, who may experience addiction symptoms, feeling helpless and disoriented due to the lack of assistance and validity within video game addiction. Various scholars have expressed their approaches to internet gaming addiction, with Professor Jeffrey Deverensky as an example of many. Deverensky, the director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling at McGill University had communicated with the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning the development of video game addiction. Deverensky states, “It may not have the same prevalence as some other disorders but… I get a call at least once every two weeks from a parent who says, ‘I can’t get him off his computer,’ or ‘I can’t get him off his cellphone because all he wants to do is play these games.’” Deverensky goes on to o share another crucial factor, “There’ve been a number of instances where individuals have actually committed suicide because they weren’t able to have access to their computer for gaming.” Due to the increasing amount of users expressing concern for their mental health, as well as the troubling instances that have led to suicide, video game addiction is a notion that multiple individuals have publicly spoken up about and allowed users who may be experiencing these symptoms an outlet to aid in their mental health. Cameron Adair, from Calgary, had struggled with video game addiction and ultimately recovered; using this experience to develop gamequitters.com, which assists users with video game addiction. Adair shares, “I get emails from parents every single day who say they have taken the Xbox away and now their kid is threatening to commit suicide. We need to be sensitive that there’s people out there struggling. They’re losing relationships, they’re failing out of college, they’re losing their families and their kids. This is a significant thing and if they want support, let’s give it to them.” With having lived through video game addiction, Adair helps gaming addicts as well as parents to help thoroughly guide them and/or their children through to recovery. In short, Pont shares that although it is difficult to find help for video game addiction, it is always important to visit a family doctor for starters—since video gaming addiction may be the cause of underlying issues that the user may be struggling with. Hence, resorting to video gaming as an escape, leading to the addiction of video gaming.

As of June 11, 2018, WHO announced compulsive gaming is now classified as a mental disorder. Spokeswoman for the British Psychological Society, Dr. Joan Harvey, had shared only a small percentage of video gamers will experience gaming disorder and is essentially concerned that with the new classification of gaming disorder, parents will worry more than necessary. “People need to understand this doesn’t mean every child who spends hours in their room playing games is an addict, otherwise medics are going to be flooded with requests for help,” Harvey shares. here has been a shift from the concern of video game addicts not being taken seriously due to the lack of help from health care professionals as well as the stigma within the notion of video game addiction—To directors and doctors suggesting parents should not worry too much about their children gaming seeing that there is a small percentage of children being diagnosed with gaming disorder. This article suggests parents and children should find a medium, in which they determine what is considered “too much” and “enough” gaming. Harvey states, “People need to understand this doesn’t mean every child who spends hours in their room playing games is an addict, otherwise medics are going to be flooded with requests for help.” Although gaming addiction disorder is not as common compared to various mental disorders, parents and gamers are advised to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the gamers’ mental health. Studies have demonstrated that playing video games for long periods of time causes harm upon users. Users who may have video game addiction may experience symptoms such as, losing control, low to no interest in socializing, and irritability as well as hostility. Classifying video game addiction as an official disorder helps legitimize the issue and reinforces proper care and treatment for gamers in Ontario.

Social Media Addiction in Canada
Social media consists of networking websites that allow users to connect with one another through the connection of the Internet. The word “social” comes from the latin word socialis, meaning “companionship, of allies; united, living with others; of marriage, conjugal. From socius, “companion, ally,” and from sokwyo, “to follow.” As, mass media or mass medium is the “means of communication that reach large numbers of people.” Together, social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are all primary examples of social media. Essentially, the use of social media contain “followers” which may consist of the user’s friends, family, as well as strangers (if the account is set on public as opposed to private). Followers are people the user may interact with. It assists family and friends to keep in touch with one another from across the globe. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook mainly consist of photo sharing, whereas Twitter is more text-based while also giving the option to add media files to post and share. These are few social media examples that are generally composed of the same layout. Social media applications can be downloaded and used on mobile devices, tablets, iPads, as well as laptops. It is often used as a form of leisure, in which users tend to explore social media on their free time or to simply pass time. Although there are positive aspects of social media and has ultimately grown into one of the primary forms of communication, there has been a discussion of social media’s role in every day life. According to Psychology Today Canada, Dr. Daria Kuss and Mark D. Griffiths examined the scientific aspects on excessive social media use. “We did find that for a small minority of individuals there was a significant detrimental effect on many aspects of their life, including their real life relationships and academic achievement among those fill in education. We argued that such signs are indicative of addiction.” Similar to video game addiction, social media addiction contains a small percentage of users who may experience signs of addiction. Kuss and Griffiths found that social media use within a small group of individuals is connected to various psychological problems such as anxiety, loneliness, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, depression, and addiction. Users who experience these problems are often attached to their technological devices and are constantly refreshing their social media in fear of missing out. Kuss and Griffiths conclude that social media addiction may possibly need further treatment from healthcare professionals.

According to the Globe and Mail Canada, girls in Ontario experience negative effects with the use of social media, causing a strain on their mental health. The survey demonstrated that girls undergo mental health issues at an increasing rate compared to boys in Ontario. Researchers discovered that 61% of girls who are active social media users that spend five hours or more on networking websites per day demonstrated psychological distress as opposed to boys. About 33% of boys have showed signs of desolation, presenting a lower percentage compared to the girls in Ontario. Studies show that girls may experience more psychological distress due to the pressures of generating followers and “likes.” Social media applications such as Instagram and Snapchat in particular are focused solely on photo sharing. This causes girls to feel stress and anxiety over maintaining their appearance and generally connect “likes” on Instagram to being well-liked or popular in real life. Social media such as Instagram is often comprised with models and celebrities who are regularly posting “selfies” and bikini photos. With 61% of girls in Ontario spending five hours or above per day on social media, this can result in low self-esteem and constant pressure to physically look a certain way in order to feel accepted. Erin Anderssen shares, “Since 2001, the survey found the percentage of girls who say they are ‘too fat’ has increased to 31 per cent from 23 per cent.” It is evident that with the rise in social media use, more girls in Ontario tend to experience body image issues. Girls Incorporated of Upper Canada’s summer program facilitator, Sahaana Ranganathan, stated that “social media creates this ‘need to achieve an impossible standard.’” Studies demonstrate that social media addiction leads to anxiety and depression within young girls, especially teenagers. Similar to other addictions such as video games, social media addiction also prevents users from engaging in real life connections, it can negatively affects one’s career or education, and ultimately disconnects the user from their every day life. Jean Twenge, an American psychologist shares, “In Canada, 76 per cent of Canadians owned a smartphone in 2016; of this, 94 per cent of 15-to-34-year-olds surveyed reporting owning one. The smartphone has become the primary gateway to internet and social media use as well as texting and calling.” Statistics demonstrate that a vast amount of Canadians are often on their cellular mobiles or any other technological devices that allow them to access the Internet and social media. In late 2017, Twenge recognized “that adolescents who spent more time on new media were more likely to report mental health issues while those teens who spent more time on ‘non-screen activities’ were less likely to struggle with mental health challenges.” The more time spent on social media such as Facebook and Instagram, the likelihood that the user is experiencing unfulfillment, anxiety, and depression. The notion of “FOMO,” meaning “fear of missing out,” is often embedded within social media addiction due to the constant checking and refreshing of social media applications in order to stay up to date with everyone’s lives. Twenge ultimately explains that with a large percentage of Canadians accessing social media and the Internet, social media addiction will be a growing concern among users who tend to use their smartphones and media applications frequently.

Pornography Addiction in Canada
Porn is defined as the presentation of erotic behaviour whether it being through photographs, writing, and/or video. Porn’s general intention is to generate sexual excitement and arousal. Similar to leading causes of other addictions, consuming excessive amounts of pornography can lead to dependency. In the past, pornography would be accessed through magazines as well as through the purchase or rental of pornographic video tapes and DVDs. Now, with the advancement of technology and the Internet, pornographic websites are now available to access with no cost. One particular study, “Stop Procrastinating” organized by a group of journalists and researchers had found that “47 per cent of men over 60 had watched porn in the last two months, and 29 per cent of men over 70 had viewed porn in the last two months” in Canada. In addition to this, they had also discovered that “33 per cent of participants said watching porn was like a drug and they felt the need to watch it.” With the Internet being so easily accessible, frequent porn viewers tend to rely and heavily consume cyber pornography. According to Kimberly S. Young, “Adults, children, anyone using the technology can accidentally find online porn and start browsing through millions of potential images from the comfort of their homes and offices." Internet users are likely to come across pornographic content even with no intention to. It has been discussed that pornography addiction begins with a technological device such as a computer, laptop, or cellphone. For instance, Young uses Harold as an example, stating that his addiction began with a computer. Consequently, people realize they have an addiction when it is too late. Gabriel Deem, for example, had encountered pornography at the age of eight until the age of 12. Ten years passed and Gabriel realized he was an addict. Deem shares, “I didn’t even realize it was a problem until I couldn’t function sexually.” He further explained why and how he came to the conclusion that he was addicted to pornography: “I got with a beautiful girl who I found extremely attractive [but] when I got with her, I couldn’t feel anything.” Deem had eventually recovered from his addiction to pornography and now manages RebootNation.org--in which a community assists other online users to recuperate from porn addiction. Since then, Deem had continued to organize and speak at conferences, educating young students about the effects of pornography. On November 17, 2014, Deem held a conference in Winnipeg in which he continued to inform and shed light on the negative aspects and potential side effects of frequent, online pornographic viewing. The Effects of Pornography’s, Asa Don Brown, shares, “‘The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity estimates that 6 to 8 percent of Americans—or 18 million to 24 million—are addicts. And 70 percent of sex addicts report having a problem with online sexual behaviour.’ In Canada, the statistics on pornographic viewing and addictions are paralleled." With Canada’s statistics corresponding to American’s, these findings demonstrate that about 6 to 8 percent of Canada’s population are addicted to pornographic content. This can cause severe problems within relationships as well as addicts becoming reliant on porn in order to escape from stress, loneliness, and sorrow. As Young stated that although pornography today may be introduced with a technological device, it is primarily underlying issues regarding intimacy and stress that drive porn addicts and not so much the pornographic content itself. Due to the fact that porn addiction is not classified as a mental health disorder, addicts are given limited help and assistance from health care professionals. One example in particular is an anonymous man on canadianmennonite.org, using the pseudonym, “Steve.” Steve had become addicted to pornography which had evolved with the constant rental of adult videos and masturbation. After accepting his addiction, he had decided to visit Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, which eventually led to visiting Sex Addicts Anonymous, then finally seeing a Christian therapist. While there may not be a various amount of facilities and centres that concentrate on porn addicts, Steve—and many others—look into other forms of addiction counselling, that still make an impact on breaking an addict’s constant cycle. Today,websites and Youtube videos such as Gabriel Deem’s RebootNation.org, are few of other platforms that look to assist in recovery. Sex, porn and love addiction groups in Toronto such as Sexaholics Anonymous Toronto, Sex Addicts Anonymous SAA, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, as well as Men Therapy Toronto, all provide a space in which porn addicts can discuss and express underlying issues that may have led to their addiction and help aid in their road to recovery. Specifically, Men Therapy Toronto supply counselling and therapy services for men who may be ashamed and are ultimately putting an effort in bettering themselves and their relationships. Although porn addiction is not recognized as a mental disorder, it is important to note that there are facilities and counselling services made available in Canada that look to assist those in need and support.