Do you suffer from Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD)?

Are you in on the "latest fad?" Facebook Addiction Disorder (with the clever acronym, FAD) is taking over.

Facebook is a phenomenon, a powerhouse, and for some, even a lifestyle. Facebook was intended to be a useful tool for networking, business, and keeping in touch with friends and family. Although Mark Zuckerberg's intentions were harmless when creating this social-networking-giant, Facebook has turned into nothing less than a tool of destructive addiction. This addiction has given Facebook the power to own society. Many do not realize the power that they allow Facebook to possess. The growing usage of this social networking powerhouse is consuming the lives of people all over the world. Every day, more and more people are allowing Facebook to own them.

Facebook Addiction Disorder is not yet a medical term, however; I would not be surprised to see it become one. What is the border line between being a Facebook Addict and simply keeping in touch with friends? Some signs of the disorder (in my opinion) may include:

- feeling as if you NEED to log on everyday

- checking Facebook when waking up and right before going to sleep

- checking Facebook for notifcations regularly

- posting numerous statuses per day

- feeling the need to tell your 'friends' your every action

- spending more time socializing on Facebook than you do in person

I know from personal experience the craving to log into Facebook and seach through my newsfeed to see what my 'friends' are doing. I am only on day six without the use of the site and still feeling the urge to log on.

"Facebook addiction has gone way beyond a simple obession" (Naik)

Here are some "types" of Facebook Addicts, taken from http://www.mdhil.com/the-latest-fad-facebook-addiction-disorder/ 

The lurkers: These are the ones who see everything, read everything but leave no sign that they were ever online. No comments, no shares, heck, these people don’t even hit the like button!
The likers: Speaking of the like button, there are those who seem to hit the like button for everything they see. At their worst, they may end up liking their own status messages!
The attention seekers: These people are always active on Facebook. These people upload pictures, put up status messages with an alarming regularity and usually have more than 1000+ friends.
The gamers: These are the people who flood your newsfeed with random requests from Farmville, Castleville, Mafia wars and the likes. They may even invite you to be their neighbours or join their gang!

What type of Facebook Addict are you?

  Feel free to comment with your thoughts and check back soon for more!

Naik, Abhijit. "Facebook Addiction." Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 24 Feb. 2012.