Web Exclusive

Internet addiction to be named a disease

By Rong Xiandong (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-03-27 19:49
Large Medium Small

Addiction to the Internet, which has plagued many users among young Chinese, is expected to be regarded as a disease, Guangzhou Daily reported.

The Ministry of Health is conducting research on Internet addition, which is to be named "pathological Internet use", Shen Jiahong, director of the Guangzhou Baiyun Psychological Institute, said.

Nearly 50 percent of teenaged delinquents in south China's Guangdong province are Internet-dependent, according to Deng Weilong, head of the Guangdong team on the prevention of teenaged crimes.