Internet Addiction Spectrum: Which of Five Types Are You
Author: University of Surrey
Published: 2 Oct 2023 - Updated: 29 Jun 2026
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed | Research, Study, Analysis
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis: This research, a peer-reviewed study from the University of Surrey published in the Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, sets out a new internet addiction spectrum that sorts users into five distinct groups based on their online behavior. Drawing on 796 participants, the work is useful because it draws a clear line between problematic internet use and genuine addiction, and reports concrete findings - that addiction tendency rises the younger a person is and tapers with age, that no link was found between gender and online behavior, and that higher addiction levels go hand in hand with greater confidence using mobile technology. For people with disabilities, seniors, caregivers, and anyone weighing their own habits, the categories and the daily-use figures offer a grounded reference point for recognizing where they or someone they support might sit, and why tailored support matters at different stages.*
At a Glance
- 1 - People aged 24 and under average six hours online daily.
- 2 - Casual Users are the oldest group, averaging 33.4 years of age.
- 3 - Emotional reactions to an app predicted future behavior, while navigation actions were largely irrelevant for addicts.
- Topic Definition: Internet Addiction
Internet addiction describes a pattern of compulsive online behavior in which a person spends increasing amounts of time connected, struggles to log off when they intend to, and begins neglecting real-world responsibilities, relationships, or routines as a result. Rather than a single on-or-off condition, it is better understood as a spectrum that ranges from casual, task-focused use through to dependence marked by anxiety when offline and a felt loss of control. Researchers distinguish it from merely problematic or heavy use by looking at emotional reliance and the degree to which online activity displaces offline life, factors that vary with age and tend to be more pronounced among younger users.
Introduction
Young people (24 years and younger) spend an average of six hours a day online, primarily using their smartphones, according to research from the University of Surrey. Older people (those 24 years and older) spend 4.6 hours online.
Surrey's study, which involved 796 participants, introduces a new internet addiction spectrum, categorizing internet users into five groups:
- Casual Users (14.86%): This group mainly goes online for specific tasks and logs off without lingering. They show no signs of addiction and are generally older, with an average age of 33.4 years. They are the least interested in exploring new apps.
- Initial Users (22.86%): These individuals often find themselves online longer than they initially planned and are somewhat neglectful of household chores but don't consider themselves addicted. They are moderately interested in apps and have an average age of 26.1 years.
- Experimenters (21.98%): This group feels uneasy or anxious when not connected to the internet. Once they go online, they feel better. Experimenters are more willing to try out new apps and technology, and their average age is between 22.8 and 24.3 years.
- Addicts-in-Denial (17.96%): These users display addictive behaviors like forming new relationships online and neglecting real-world responsibilities to be online. However, they won't admit to feeling uneasy when they're not connected. They are also quite confident in using mobile technology.
- Addicts (22.36%): This group openly acknowledges their internet addiction and recognizes its negative impact on their lives. They are the most confident in using new apps and technology. Their time online is significantly greater than that of the Casual Users.
Main Content
Dr Brigitte Stangl, the lead author of the study at the University of Surrey, said:
"Our main aim was to clarify the difference between using the internet in a problematic way and being addicted to it. We found that the younger you are, the more likely you are to be addicted to the internet, and this tendency decreases with age.'
"We also wanted to explore how the severity of internet addiction affects users' experience with new, high-tech applications like augmented reality."
The researchers found no link between gender and online behavior. Additionally, higher levels of addiction correlated with more confidence in using mobile technology, particularly a greater willingness to try out new apps.
The study also discovered that emotional experiences (the emotions felt while using an app) strongly predicted future behavior for all groups when interacting with augmented reality. In contrast, action experiences (navigating a website or playing a game) were mostly irrelevant for addicts.
Dr Stangl concluded:
"Our study underscores the need for tailored interventions and support for individuals at various stages of internet addiction. The findings will certainly influence the design and development of digital services and AR applications, ensuring they cater to the diverse needs of users in the current digital environment."
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: What gives this study its weight is the refusal to treat internet use as a simple addicted-or-not question, replacing that blunt split with a five-stage continuum that even names an Addicts-in-Denial group - a category most of us would never volunteer ourselves into, yet one the data suggests is far from rare, and a reminder that honest self-assessment is the first step before any of the tailored interventions the researchers call for can actually help.*Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Surrey and published on 2 Oct 2023, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.