Internet addiction, usage, gratification, and pleasure experience: the Taiwan college students' case

Abstract

This study explores Internet addiction among some of the Taiwan's college students. Also covered are a discussion of the Internet as a form of addiction, and related literature on this issue. This study used the Uses and Gratifications theory and the Play theory in mass communication. Nine hundred and ten valid surveys were collected from 12 universities and colleges around Taiwan. The results indicated that Internet addiction does exist among some of Taiwan's college students. In particular, 54 students were identified as Internet addicts, It was found that Internet addicts spent almost triple the number of hours connected to the Internet as compare to non-addicts, and spent significantly more time on BBSs, the WWW, e-mail and games than non-addicts. The addict group found the Internet entertaining, interesting, interactive, and satisfactory. The addict group rated Internet impacts on their studies and daily life routines significantly more negatively than the non-addict group. The study also found that the most powerful predictor of Internet addiction is the communication pleasure score, followed by BBS use hours, sex, satisfaction score, and e-mail-use hours. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.