This Special Issue presents some of the main emerging research on technological topics of health and education approaches to Internet use-related problems, before and during the beginning of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The objective is to provide an overview to facilitate a comprehensive and practical approach to these new trends to promote research, interventions, education, and prevention. It contains 40 papers, four reviews and thirty-five empirical papers and an editorial introducing everything in a rapid review format. Overall, the empirical ones are of a relational type, associating specific behavioral addictive problems with individual factors, and a few with contextual factors, generally in adult populations. Many have adapted scales to measure these problems, and a few cover experiments and mixed methods studies. The reviews tend to be about the concepts and measures of these problems, intervention options, and prevention. In summary, it seems that these are a global culture trend impacting health and educational domains. Internet use-related addiction problems have emerged in almost all societies, and strategies to cope with them are under development to offer solutions to these contemporary challenges, especially during the pandemic situation that has highlighted the global health problems that we have, and how to holistically tackle them.

This Special Issue presents some of the main emerging research on technological topics of health and education approaches to Internet use-related problems, before and during the beginning of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The objective is to provide an overview to facilitate a comprehensive and practical approach to these new trends to promote research, interventions, education, and prevention. It contains 40 papers, four reviews and thirty-five empirical papers and an editorial introducing everything in a rapid review format. Overall, the empirical ones are of a relational type, associating specific behavioral addictive problems with individual factors, and a few with contextual factors, generally in adult populations. Many have adapted scales to measure these problems, and a few cover experiments and mixed methods studies. The reviews tend to be about the concepts and measures of these problems, intervention options, and prevention. In summary, it seems that these are a global culture trend impacting health and educational domains. Internet use-related addiction problems have emerged in almost all societies, and strategies to cope with them are under development to offer solutions to these contemporary challenges, especially during the pandemic situation that has highlighted the global health problems that we have, and how to holistically tackle them.

Internet use-related addiction problems (e.g., Internet addiction, problem mobile phone use, problem gaming, and social networking) have been defined according to the same core element: the addictive symptomatology presented by individuals who excessively and problematically behave using the technology. Online activity is the most important factor in their lives, causing them the loss of control by stress and difficulties in managing at least one aspect of their daily life, affecting users’ wellbeing and health. In 2018, Gaming Disorder was included as a mental disease in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organization. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association requested additional research on Internet Gaming Disorder. The papers contained in this e-Book provide unique and original perspectives on the concept, development, and early detection of the prevention of these health problems. They are diverse in the nature of the problems they deal with, methodologies, populations, cultures, and contain insights and a clear indication of the impact of individual, social, and environmental factors on Internet use-related addiction problems. The e-Book illustrates recent progress in the evolution of research, with great emphasis on gaming and smartphone problems, signaling areas in which research would be useful, even cross-culturally.

An addiction is a chronic dysfunction of the brain system concerned with reward, motivation and memory. It involves the way a body craves a substance or behavior, especially if it causes a compulsive or obsessive pursuit of reward and lack of concern over consequences. In contemporary times, smartphone and internet addiction has become a major issue of concern. Smart phone addiction is composed of various basic components. These include obsessive phone use, behaviors such as repetitive checking for messages or updates, or feelings of agitation or suffering without the phone. Internet addiction is a type of addiction that involves the inability to control one's internet use. This condition results in serious impairment of various life functions and can result in a variety of health conditions. This book provides a comprehensive understanding of smartphone and internet addiction. It will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.

The second edition of this successful book provides further and in-depth insight into theoretical models dealing with Internet addiction, as well as includes new therapeutical approaches. The editors also broach the emerging topic of smartphone addiction. This book combines a scholarly introduction with state-of-the-art research in the characterization of Internet addiction. It is intended for a broad audience including scientists, students and practitioners. The first part of the book contains an introduction to Internet addiction and their pathogenesis. The second part of the book is dedicated to an in-depth review of neuroscientific findings which cover studies using a variety of biological techniques including brain imaging and molecular genetics. The third part of the book focuses on therapeutic interventions for Internet addiction. The fourth part of the present book is an extension to the first edition and deals with a new emerging potential disorder related to Internet addiction – smartphone addiction. Moreover, in this second edition of the book new content has been added. Among others, the reader will find an overview of theoretical models dealing with Internet addiction, results from twin studies in the context of Internet addiction and additional insights into therapeutic approaches to Internet addiction.

"A Special Issue on health and educational effects due to excessive Internet or mobile phone use (among other technological devices, applications, and factors promoting these emergent behavioural problems, basically promoted as being excessively connected online), in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, is being organized"--

The various forms of internet use, including social networking, online shopping, gambling, and gaming are a product of the time in which we live and represent an integral part of how we conduct and engage in social interaction. Internet platforms are used daily providing people with the ability to connect, and efficiently exchange important information, as well as provide educational functions and raise awareness/support of problems faced by individuals and societies globally. However, excessive use of internet-related content has shown a significant association with addictive behavior which could have serious repercussions on an individual’s mental health. Where it is generally accepted that a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors contributes to the pathophysiology of addiction, the ongoing debate remains as to whether certain excessive behaviors should be classified as addictions, including social networking addiction. Although any internet-related addiction is not specifically identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), it shares a common underlying etiological framework with other (substance or behavioral) addictions.

Smartphone addiction refers to a behavioral condition that involves the obsessive use of a smartphone. It is often fueled by an internet addiction disorder. The addiction occurs due to electronic gadgets, as well as the applications, games and internet that connect the people with virtual world. The symptoms of internet addiction disorder manifest in both physical and emotional forms. Depression, isolation, agitation, defensiveness, no sense of time, avoidance of work, fear, loneliness, procrastination, mood swings and anxiety are some of the emotional symptoms of internet and smartphone addiction. Some physical signs and symptoms include backache, insomnia, neck pain, weight gain or loss, dry eyes and other vision problems. Cognitive behavior therapy, group therapy and psychotherapy are some common treatment methods for internet and smartphone addiction. This book provides an evidence based approach to help develop a better understanding of internet and smartphone addiction. It is a resource guide for experts as well as students.