L'interazione sociale nella web society tra Internet disorder e ruolo dei servizi delle dipendenze

In this paper we refer to the concept of new addiction as to a phenomenon where there exists a risk of non-substances dependence. After defining and analysing the concept of new addiction itself, the paper will deal with the Internet addiction disorder, an increasingly relevant and widespread social phenomenon, and the changes occurred to the relationship between the individuals and the new technologies in the era of the web society. It is well acknowledged that the web plays a significant matching role (electronic social processes), mediation, composition, re-composition and exchange of social meanings among individuals. Furthermore, several studies point out that there are significant correlation between social factors, cultural (gender) preferences and the use of the web. The analysis cast in this paper aims at verifying if and how the electronic interaction (seen as a peculiar social interaction) may sometime yield internet addiction and which relevance and social meaning is played by some cultural variables in the electronic communication. It is clearly arising a real phenomenon of IAD which will shortly make clear there is a need of several preventive actions aiming at spreading and promoting the awareness and discussion of that phenomenon itself. A possible answer to this new phenomenon (the IAD) could come - paradoxicaly - from the web.