EAST TEXAS (KYTX) -- Victoria Spray is one of the 845 million Americans who visit Facebook every day.
"I go on for the games," she said. "And I'm originally from Vegas, so I go to connect with people who are still there."
The average American spends about 23 percent of all Internet time on some type of social networking site. That's according to a recent Neilson study.
Spray wouldn't classify herself as an addict -- but says she knows a few who are.
"My friend's on for eight to seven hours a day," she said.
Psychologist Stephen Westmoreland said when social media takes away from your physical life that's when it becomes a problem.
"An addiction would be if you're doing the Facebook or something in place of something else that needs to be done, like work or relating to your kids or spouse," he said.
New research from Chicago University's Booth Business School shows resisting social media and email may be harder than the urge to resist cigarettes and alcohol.
Dr. Westmoreland said social media is just like other activities we enjoy in our lives, but too much of anything can be a bad thing.
"It's like if you recognize alcohol is becoming a problem, you limit the number of drinks you have in a space of time," he said.
He said if you think you have a problem, test yourself, cut back on time online.
"If you can't cut, then that's when you seek help," he said.
So how do you know if your child has a social media addiction? Experts at Texas State University say look for academic problems, declining interest in hobbies and withdrawal from friends.
