People feel a natural resistance to labeling technology as addictive in the same sense that cocaine is addictive or methamphetamine is addictive. Yet considering the behavior of addicts, it’s hard to see much daylight between chemically-fueled addiction and technology or Internet addiction.

photo by Carl MiKoy - http://flic.kr/p/7XvfWg

Substance abuse and addiction can affect anyone, of any race, and any social status. So too, can technology addiction. South Park (video link) lampooned the legions of young World of Warcraft players playing 60 or more hours a week in their parents basement while the Wall Street Journal wrote about top-level executives getting hooked on a simple Breakout variant called “BrickBreaker” that came preinstalled on Blackberry phones. Just like any addicts, these corporate high-fliers neglected work and family to chase the rush of a new high score.

Smartphones are becoming competent gaming platforms all by themselves now. Time will tell if the brighter, louder, flashier games will distract more of us from the goals we set for ourselves.