Is it possible to be addicted to the Internet?

I spend approximately 2/3 hours a day on the internet but I can't say I'm addicted. I never use chat rooms and keep instant messages to a minimum. The internet has now become a hobby for me, replacing other interests I used to do regularly. It even helps immensely with one of them. I collect postcards and buying from the internet saves me great time and money instead of trekking round postcard fairs and events etc. I also read the news on the internet where before I never had time to read the papers. When on the internet I am learning all the time, I don't see that as an addiction.

Yes, it's very possible to be addicted to the internet, as well as with anything else.

A danger for addicts of any kind is transferred addiction. So the patient stops being a practising cokehead but in not time at all is addicted to alcohol. The alcoholic stops the practice but soon decides that gambling is the thing and becomes addicted to that. It is because there is an addictive personality which can rationally conquer one addiction but be unchanged itself, so it will eventually find another stimulus. If that stimulus is the internet then it'll be that that is addictive.

Hang on a sec. I gave up alcohol......er, I'd best switch off. Byeeee !