ADDICTED TO FACEBOOK?

EVER since I signed up to Facebook in 2007, there has not been a day I have not logged on to check my profile and news feed.

The moment I wake up in the morning, I check the feed on my smartphone — before I even have a cup of tea or get dressed.

I check it at least every hour and I’ve even started using social networking as a time-filler.

If there is a moment in the day where I am feeling bored, I will go straight on to Facebook rather than make a phone call to someone or read a book.

I even check my news feed during all the advert breaks when I’m watching the telly.

I have the Facebook alerts switched on just to make sure I am aware as soon as I get a notification. It panics me if I know someone has uploaded photos that I am tagged in and I can’t check them immediately. 

I have tried to wean myself off Facebook over the past year but I just couldn’t cope without instant access to it.

I have 520 Facebook “friends” but I only regularly communicate with around 20 of them.

I am very fearful of missing out on people’s conversations on Facebook or being behind on their news if I don’t check the site every hour.

I realised that my addiction was getting worse when I found myself checking my phone for updates in the middle of the night.

If the Facebook alert tone wakes me, there is no way at all that I could wait until the morning to find out what it was about — I would have to check straight away.

I would never delete my profile. I tried to go without Facebook for a week once but I became very irritable and ended up giving in after two days.

- Dulcie Pearce, 24, talking to The Sun newspaper. More

Sounds scary, right? And don't think you are immune just because you don't use FB or any similar sites, as a blogger you have the potential to become just as addicted.

Anyway .........

The University of Bergen, Norway, have come up with a test that ascertains whether or not you are addicted to FaceBook.


Based on the six core elements of dependency used to spot alcoholics and drug users, it uses key questions which show how hooked you are on the social networking site.


Wanna take the test?


Use the Bergen scale to assess yourself on the statements below:
1 = Very rarely; 2 = Rarely; 3 = Sometimes; 4 = Often and 5 = Very often.

• You spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook or plan use of it.
• You feel an urge to visit Facebook more and more.
• You use the site in order to forget about personal problems.
• You have failed to cut down use.
• You become restless if you are prohibited from visiting Facebook.
• You use it so much it has had a negative impact on your job/studies.

A score of 4 or 5 on at least four of the points could mean addiction.

Phew, the good news? 

......... to FaceBook

The not so good news?


If I substitute the word 'Blog' for 'FaceBook' I probably have a problem.


What about you, are you addicted?