In the study scheduled for publication in Addiction, researchers from the State University of New York at Albany, Children’s Hospital of Boston and the University of the Sciences used an examination of 253 undergraduate college students to explore the potential link between excessive social networking participation and diagnosable behavioral addiction. The students included in the study were chosen to reflect the demographic backgrounds (age, gender, racial/ethnic ancestry, etc.) of all American college enrollees. The researchers used a screening tool called the Young Internet Addiction Test to assess the presence of addictive behavior in these individuals. They also used modified versions of some of the screening tools commonly used in the U.S. to identify possible cases of alcohol abuse/addiction, substance abuse/addiction and significant emotional problems.