China’s population of young internet addicts skyrocketed to 24 million in 2009, state media reported. The figure accounts for one in seven young internet users. One of every three of China’s 384 million internet users is younger than 19, according to the China Internet Network Information Center, with 15.6% of internet users aged 18 to 23 reported as addicts. Internet addiction is defined by the government as fulfilling any one of three qualifications: always wanting to use the internet; feeling annoyed or depressed if deprived of internet use; and preference for the cyber-world over the real world. As the number of internet addicts has doubled since 2005, ever larger numbers of addicts have been admitted to re-education and internet addiction rehabilitation programs, where controversial therapies including electroshock and beatings – resulting in one death – have aroused public concern over treatment.
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