--- title: Google Glass Addict Treated By Doctors in San Diego description: Doctors observed a "notable, nearly involuntary movement of the right hand up to his temple area and tapping it with his forefinger" canonical: https://time.com/3508086/google-glass-addiction/ author: Jack Linshi article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-10-14T23:19:55.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:07:23.944Z article:section: Health og:title: Google Glass Addict Treated By Doctors in San Diego og:description: Doctors observed a "notable, nearly involuntary movement of the right hand up to his temple area and tapping it with his forefinger" og:url: https://time.com/3508086/google-glass-addiction/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9b46fc5be618432b/6986992b3bc999dc911a4401/google-glass.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2251 og:image:height: 1266 og:image:alt: Google Glass og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Google Glass Addict Treated By Doctors in San Diego twitter:description: Doctors observed a "notable, nearly involuntary movement of the right hand up to his temple area and tapping it with his forefinger" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9b46fc5be618432b/6986992b3bc999dc911a4401/google-glass.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Man Treated for Google Glass Addiction > Sponsored content. 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Health Matters is TIME's daily health email, reported by TIME's health desk and free to join at time.com/newsletters. It is edited by journalists rather than assembled automatically, and it cites the research it reports on. #### Is Health Matters free? Yes. Health Matters is a free daily newsletter from TIME, available at time.com/newsletters. #### Who reads TIME's Health Matters newsletter? Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators.  by [Jack Linshi](https://time.com/author/jack-linshi/)  ## Jack Linshi Oct 14, 2014 11:19 PM UTC  A visitor of the "NEXT Berlin" conference tries out the Google Glass on April 24, 2013 in Berlin. A visitor of the "NEXT Berlin" conference tries out the Google Glass on April 24, 2013 in Berlin.DPA/AFP/Getty Images  by [Jack Linshi](https://time.com/author/jack-linshi/)  ## Jack Linshi Oct 14, 2014 11:19 PM UTC San Diego doctors have identified the first known case of “Internet addiction disorder” involving Google Glass, according to a new [study](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460314003153). The 31-year old patient is a service member who checked into the U.S. Navy’s Substance Abuse Program for alcoholism treatment, the study published in _Addictive Behaviors_ said. During his residential treatment program, the doctors identified that the man “exhibited problematic use of Google Glass,” which manifested in “a notable, nearly involuntary movement of the right hand up to his temple area and tapping it with his forefinger.” The motion is used to activate the wearable technology. The man had worn the device for up to 18 hours a day, and told doctors he would become extremely irritated and frustrated without the technology’s assistance, the report said. He also reported having dreams where his vision appeared as though it was seen through the lenses. Addiction expert and report co-author Dr. Andrew Doan told [NBC News](http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/google-glass-addiction-doctors-report-first-case-disorder-n225801) Tuesday that the patient has now completed a 35-day program and is displaying fewer Google Glass withdrawal symptoms. “Internet addiction” is [not classified](http://www.psychiatry.org/practice/dsm/dsm5) as a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association, the agency that defines whether or not certain mental conditions are psychiatric disorders. But many experts believe the problem merits proper treatment, which has led to the opening of the [first U.S. Internet addiction treatment center](http://www.brmc.com/programs-services/internet-addiction-bradford-pa.php) last year. The condition has reportedly reached dramatic levels in China, where some say [violent measures](http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1874380,00.html) have been taken to address it. ### See Which Celebrities Love Google Glass  Prince Charles tries on 'Google Glass' spectacles as he visits 'Innovation Alley' in Winnipeg, Canada on May 21, 2014. Chris Jackson—Getty Images  Michele Bachmann tries Google Glass after leaving a meeting of the Republican Party Caucus on Capitol Hill on May 15, 2013. Michael Mathes—AFP/Getty Images  Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer appear on NBC News' "Today" show on April 30, 2013. Peter Kramer—NBC NewsWire/Getty Images  Florida State wide receiver Kenny Shaw, left, helps quarterback Jameis Winston don a pair of Google Glasses during the BCS Championship Game Media Day at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel Spa in Newport Beach, Calif. on Jan. 4, 2014. Stephen M. Dowell—MCT/Getty Images  Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google Inc., stands for a photograph while wearing Project Glass internet glasses at the Diane Von Furstenberg fashion show in New York, N.Y., on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. Bloomberg/Getty Images  Carson Daly appears on NBC News' "Today" show on July 23, 2013. Peter Kramer—NBC NewsWire/Getty Images  TV personality Kelly Osbourne attends the DoSomething.org and VH1's 2013 Do Something Awards at Avalon on July in Hollywood, Calif. 31, 2013. Michael Buckner—VH1/Getty Images  Actor Kunal Nayyar arrives at the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. in Los Angeles, Calif. on September 22, 2013. Frazer Harrison—Getty Images  TV personality Rob Marciano attends the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. on January 12, 2014. Jason Merritt—Getty Images  A model walks the runway at the Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theatre at Lincoln Centerin New York, N.Y., on September 9, 2012 Victor Virgile—Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images  Professional wrestler 'The Miz' arrives at WWE and E! Entertainment's "Superstars For Hope" at Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. on August 15, 2013. Angela Weiss—Getty Images  Wide receiver Golden Tate of the Seattle Seahawks speaks to the media during Super Bowl XLVIII Media Day at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on January 28, 2014. 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