Overview of digital addiction and treatment prospects

Digital addiction is a pathological condition that compromises an individual's impulse control related to the obsessive use of digital devices, technologies, and platforms, including the internet, video games, online platforms, mobile devices, digital gadgets, and social networking platforms. This addiction has recently been the subject of study by Cyberpsychology [1], a branch of psychology that studies the problematic use of digital media, devices, and platforms, characterized by obsessive and excessive behaviors. In 2020, the World Health Organization formally recognized digital device addiction as a global problem, as it has been shown that excessive and uncontrolled internet use leads to an inability to manage time, energy, and attention during the day and causes sleep disturbances and/or insomnia at night. The phenomenon of internet addiction has significantly worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic and has spread especially among younger people. This article analyzes the problem and provides a conceptual overview of digital addiction. The scientific literature on the subject has produced numerous studies. However, we have attempted to select them based on existing literature and current research. In this article, we discuss the concept of digital addiction, including its definition, classification, symptoms, coping tools, and future prospects.