NHK

A panel of experts in Japan says more than 4.2 million people in the country are addicted to the internet.
 
The health ministry panel interviewed more than 4,000 people last year. The subjects were aged 20 and older and were selected randomly.
 
The results suggest internet addiction is up 50 percent from the last survey 6 years ago.
 
Addiction is suspected when people neglect their work or household chores as a result of spending too much time online.
 
The study shows young people are more likely to become addicted. It suggests one in 5 males aged 20 to 24 are addicts.
 
Panel chairman Susumu Higuchi blames the rapid spread of smartphones and social networking services. Higuchi works with the National Hospital Organization's Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center.
 
He says people can avoid addiction by reserving a specific amount of time each day away from the internet.