A friend's child was just diagnosed with internet addiction, is that a serious condition?

Intenet addiction: The abuse of the internet can seriously aggravate pre-existing traits such as anxiety disorders. The loss of interpersonal relationships, the change of mood, cognition completely oriented to the use of the internet can also accelarate behaviors that have similar patways to other addictions. Internet addictions can be a vehicle to hide emotional pain or impair delayed gratification development.

Internet addiction: Internet is the new addiction of our time. It is a serious problem. The child spends endless time clicking every link, site, facebook, y-tube, etc, to the total exclusion of her chores, homework, out side play, and interaction with family or peers and eats her meals beside her computer. That is the addiction.

Parental Issue: Leave it to mankind to manifest an addiction to something like the internet! this addiction can be quite serious in both children and adults. Sufferers will spend ever increasing time "surfing" the web to the exclusion of other activities such as interacting with family and friends, disregard for everyday responsibilities, even neglecting personal hygiene. Parents must limit their child's access.