
Yomiuri Weekly /Aug 6
...Cell-phone text messaging comes to mind as one example. Nowadays, the sight of women absent-mindedly tapping out text messages on their phones on the street or on the train has become increasingly common.
But when taken to the point of addiction, the use of e-mails and cell-phones falls under Sakai's category of "communication dependence syndrome."
Most people who become dependent on such devices do not like talking face-to-face with others and try to avoid potentially stressful interactions with other people.
...many emerging syndromes related to modern living, including "netaholism" and "digital-camera addiction." They also cited cases of "brand addiction" and described people who become dependent on health products as victims of "supplement addiction."