Beyond 'behavioral addiction': terminology, risk perception, and non-substance addictive disorders in the digital age

In the digital age, addiction terminology shapes understanding, risk perception, and policy response. The label 'behavioral addiction' may be imprecise because substance-related addictions are also expressed through behavior, and it may blur the distinction between intensive use and clinically significant disorder. This Viewpoint examines this terminological problem and proposes a common addiction framework based on impaired control, persistence despite harm, and functional impairment, while preserving differences in exposure route, harm profile, and regulatory needs. It uses 'non-substance addictive disorders' for clinically significant conditions not driven by direct psychoactive substance intake and 'digitally mediated addictive disorders' for conditions facilitated by digital platforms. This framework may help identify harm without pathologizing high engagement, reduce excessive attribution of responsibility to individuals, and guide prevention and regulation toward vulnerable users and reinforcing platform environments. Its policy value lies in supporting harm recognition and facilitating the adaptation of responses across cultural and digital settings.