[dharbin]

Can someone have a gambling addiction? I've often heard that gambling addiction is a real problem, so why can't social media be addictive? Social media and mobile games like to use similar "engagement" techniques as slot machines, for example.

[RandallBrown]

Yes, but just like how the vast majority of gamblers aren't addicts, the same is probably true of social media.

There's also the major difference in consequences. If you're truly addicted to social media, you're way less likely to destroy your life (although it could still be possible.)