You ever find yourself reading the same paragraph over and over again, not remembering anything that was said in that paragraph? Or you spend many hours checking email, shopping online, or clicking on the latest irresistible headline. You may be addicted to the internet. Tony Schwartz writes in the New York Times, "Addiction is the relentless pull to a substance or an activity that becomes so compulsive it ultimately interferes with everyday life. By that definition, nearly everyone I know is addicted in some measure to the Internet." It would seem the Internet has replaced work as our "most socially sanctioned addiction." One recent survey, cited in the article, says that the average white-collar worker spends six hours a day on email (not including shopping online or social media interaction). Schwartz goes on to say, "The brain's craving for novelty, constant stimulation and immediate gratification creates something called a 'compulsion loop.'" First step to right this addiction: admit your powerlessness to disconnect.

Possible Preaching Angle:

Sounds a lot like sin. We can try to rid sin ourselves, but ultimately we are powerless to disconnect from it. Only, Jesus can break us out of our "compulsion loop" for sin.

Source:

Tony Schwartz, “Addicted to Distraction,” The New York Times (11-28-15)