When Too Much Usage is Too Much: Exploring the Process of IT Addiction

Although IT usage is generally known as a desirable behavior, addictive IT usage is likely to have some adverse consequences for individuals, organizations and even societies. This paper investigates IT addiction and aims to identify the mechanisms behind its development. Based on a thorough review of the literature, we conceptualize IT addiction as a psychological dependency on IT that involves excessive use of technology. Furthermore, we identify the elements that are associated with the formation of addiction. Based on the analysis of 12 in-depth interviews and 182 qualitative surveys, we developed a process theory of IT addiction that explains how these behaviors progress through time. The model highlights the key elements that are associated with IT-related addictive behaviors and shows how they relate to the technology, the user and the environment. It also highlights the problematic consequences of such behaviors on the well-being of addicted users.