ABSTRACT
Since the 1990s, as more people got computers, the Internet has been a fact of life, with more and more of us logging on to get information, do our shopping, communicate with friends and family, and conduct business online. General online activities include social networking on MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, video-sharing on YouTube or Instagram, instant messaging, texting, gaming, webcamming, and tweeting. Computer-mediated relating is highly problematic when the person already has a real relationship that is being sidelined by a preoccupying online life. The patient’s values and morals may differ from those of the therapist, and this can lead to the pathologizing of the patient’s behavior. The most frequently researched topic online is sex, with people looking for sexual websites that dispense information and advice, joining chat rooms and discussion groups, and so finding support for healthy sexual development. Treatment for compulsive sexual behavior involving the Internet includes psychotropic medication, environmental management, support, and psychotherapy.
