Net-Generation Attributes and Seductive Properties of the Internet as Predictors of Online Activities and Internet Addiction

TLDR

The Net‑generation, born 1977–1997, grew up surrounded by home computers, video games, and the Internet, making the web their primary medium of choice. The study aimed to compare Internet‑addicted Net‑generation members with non‑addicted peers and to assess how their attributes and the seductive properties of the Internet predict addiction. Data were collected from a probability sample of 699 Net‑generation individuals aged 16 to 24. Internet‑addicted Net‑generation members were predominantly young female students, more emotionally open online, heavy ICQ users, and derived pleasure from controlling simulated worlds in online games; they spent most of their time in synchronous communication and interactive gaming for pleasure or escape, whereas non‑addicted peers used the Internet mainly for information gathering, and addicts also watched significantly less television, indicating a displacement effect.

Abstract

Born between 1977 and 1997, Net-generation is the first generation to grow up surrounded by home computers, video games, and the Internet. As children of the Baby Boomers, the Internet is the medium of choice for the Net-geners. Based on the assumption that Net-generation has unique characteristics, this study examined (1) how Net-geners addicted to the Internet differ from the non-addicted and (2) how these attributes, together with the seductive properties of the Internet, are related to Internet addiction. Data were gathered from a probability sample of 699 Net-geners between the ages of 16 and 24. Results show that Net-geners addicted to the Internet tend to be young female students. Being emotionally open on the Net and a heavy user of ICQ were most influential in predicting Net-geners' problematic use of the Internet. Addicted Net-geners are also strongly linked to the pleasure of being able to control the simulated world in online games. The finding reinforces previous research that "dependents" of the Internet spend most of their time in the synchronous communication environment engaging in interactive online games, chat rooms, and ICQ for pleasure-seeking or escape, while "non-dependents" use information-gathering functions available on the Internet. Furthermore, Internet addicts tend to watch television significantly less, indicating a displacement effect on traditional media use for the Net-generation.