Shopping Addiction caused by the Internet...Really????

I am doing my research paper on Internet Addiction and one of the items of research that I am doing is the comparisons of different addictions. I am comparing what is claimed to be internet addiction in comparison to some of those listed in the DSM such as alcohol and drug. The one addiction that I didn't think of was an addiction to "shopping". I'm sure this may catch the attention of many of you. Isn't it funny how we all stop sometimes and think, "do I have that addiction". I know I truly think about it when it comes to the internet and shopping. I ask myself am I dependent on Web 2.0 or am I shopping in excess. One of my RSS news feeds is the news station that I tune into while flying on Jetblue. We carry the news station of New York. While looking through my RSS feeds I came across this article:

Internet May Be Fueling Shopping Addiction.

I believe there is a correlation between the two. The article states that the shopping addiction is provoked in part by the internet, referring to it as an online trend. I think that the internet is an enabler feeding the addiction but the fact would remain there must be a consistency with the constant posting of items on the internet via YouTube. At first reading the title I thought it was going to lead to people shopping on the internet but instead the shopping is done outside of the home and the internet comes in play when the shoppers post what they bought. It is like a competition between the girls. It's considered shop and tell instead of show and tell quoted from an expert in shopping addiction. Again, obviously there is a common theme here and they go hand in hand. They seem to consistently use a tool to benefit and highlight a habit. The opinion of one who specializes in the treatment of compulsive buying was made available too. Benson stated, "It's in that message that happiness is only as far away as the next purchase." I wish this article could have included someone who recognizes or treats Internet Addiction. I am sure if someone who relates to Internet addiction would have had their take on this new trend they may have quoted a correlation too. Who's to say that happiness is only as far away as hitting a keystroke to access the internet. It gives us something to pause for and think about...

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/09/24/seen-at-11-internet-may-be-fueling-shopping-addiction/