A new research study by Séverine Erhel ^a, Joeffrey Drouard ^bf, Florence Jacob ^c, Marianne Lumeau ^b, Raphaël Suire ^c, Corentin Gonthier ^de, published in Computers in Human Behavior peeked our interest.

Based on 1504 participants the study found 2 psychological traits that accurately predict "problematic internet use"

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‍1. Predisposition to Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), often with chronic dissatisfaction of social bonds.

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2. Anxiety, where digital tools can "divert from negative emotions until they take on an irresistible compulsive character (negative emotion => open social network!)".

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No socio-economic trait could be found to predict problematic internet use, except young age.

"Age is one of the few significant predictors, showing that the younger one is, the more at risk they are of developing problematic internet use."

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Read the full study here: Predictors of problematic internet use in the everyday internet activities of a French representative sample: The importance of psychological traits