by Leigh Goessl

Created on: November 03, 2009   Last Updated: July 26, 2010

In recent years Facebook has become one of the top social networking websites on the web. What started off as a college networking site soared in popularity and spread to the rest of the Internet community. Today Facebook has an astonishing 500 million members, is the most popular and every day members log in to network and/or get reacquainted with family, friends, classmates or colleagues.

Ever since the Internet became a novelty back in the early to mid 1990s, computer addiction has risen and become a serious social issue. Nowadays the web has evolved so much from those early days, it has become a lot more than just being addicted to the Internet; people are addicted to interaction and ability to connect with other people on a large scale.

Enter social networking addiction, and later more specifically, a Facebook addiction.

Today many Facebook members have become addicted to the website and the many features it offers. There is the connecting and ability to learn more about people. No longer do members play any guesswork or fill in their own blanks on the attributes of anonymous Internet chat sounding names, such as the ones you would see on MySpace. The lives of many people are essentially an open book.

Facebook enthusiasts are able to see real information about people and learn more about those the individuals they know or meet on the website. In addition to the information for the viewing, there are games, videos, virtual gifts, quizzes and pretty much any virtual activity all in one space. People can virtually entertain themselves without ever having to leave the Facebook site, and no wonder so many have become addicted. It is a one stop all website, even businesses are connecting on Facebook. Usually the Facebook addict is probably the last to realize they have an addiction.

If you think you might be addicted, it is a good idea to ask yourself a few questions to see if you have a problem. Even if you answer "yes" to some or all of the below questions, you may not be an addict, but if you are truthful with yourself, you'll be able to recognize when there is a problem.

*Do you constantly log into your Facebook page or never log out?

There is often a fine line between habit and addiction. Just logging in or staying logged in all day doesn't necessarily point to an addiction, but it could. Addiction usually means you're checking your page and interrupting work or anything else frequently throughout the day to check Facebook.

*Do you repeatedly check your

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