This timely volume contests the popular claim that computers are addictive by arguing that using the internet is now a form of everyday leisure engaged in by many in Western societies. Offering an analysis of the nature of addiction alongside a detailed empirical study of home computer use, this book will be of interest to sociologists of culture, popular culture, and scholars of media, ICT and education.

Contents: Introduction: addiction: it got your attention; Internet addiction: contrasting viewpoints; When do we say 'too much'? Being cautious about 'over-use' and virtual reality; Technological development and childhood play: the changing nature of everyday leisure; Bordieu's theory of practice; Introducing some teenage technological experts: digital insiders; The blur between leisure, learning and expertise; Internet addiction in the lives of teenagers; New forms of privilege; Misrecognition of the practice of leisure; Conclusion: reframing our gaze on internet addiction; References; Index.

Nicola F. Johnson is a Senior Lecturer, Monash University, Australia