What does it mean to be 'chronically online'?

Search news articles about being "chronically online" and you’ll mostly dig up fluff pieces on celebs who spend too much time on X or TikTok (Joe Jonas just can't be without his phone!). Yet "chronically online" is also used by media outlets to describe people like Tyler Robinson, the man charged with killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. 

"Investigators say Robinson is what some would call chronically online — a person who spends an inordinate amount of time on messaging platforms, on social media, and playing video games,” according to NPR.

Is being chronically online simply a goofy trait or, rather, a gateway to loneliness, delusion, or even violence? The word "chronic" makes the description seem clinical, like a diagnosed disease, but chronically online is an unscientific term — and a descriptor open to much interpretation.

"I don’t think there is an agreement on how much online time is 'too much,' because it also depends on what one does on the internet," Carlos Gershenson-Garcia, an empire innovation professor at the State University of New York at Binghamton, tells Mashable. "I mean, many people work only using the internet, so they use it 40+ hours a week, plus for personal time. But then, if one [spends] the same amount of time on social media, that is a different story. Or playing online games. Or doomscrolling."

The phrase "chronically online" became somewhat ubiquitous during COVID when there was little to do besides walking, baking bread, and staring at the internet. As CNET (a sister site to Mashable) pointed out in 2021, certain millennials and members of Gen Z loved pointing out chronically online behavior among their peers, like regularly using verbiage exclusive to the internet (e.g., IRL, OOMF) or getting involved in debates with strangers. While those examples seem relatively innocuous, chronically online people can also gravitate from offline connections toward parasocial relationships, and get overly vested in disputes involving celebrities (Nicki Minaj v. Cardi B. seems to be a prime example).

Still, needlessly getting vested in a movie star's divorce may not be the best use of someone’s time, but it’s a far cry from being radicalized on Reddit to commit violence. 

"I think the key here is ‘chronically,' which, to me, denotes a medical condition," says John Fitzgerald, PhD, an associate professor of English at Salem State University who has written about technology for publications like the New York Times. "I think it has less to do with how much time a person spends online or even what they’re looking at and more to do with their immersion in online spaces."

Utah governor Spencer Cox described Robinson’s online behavior as traversing "that deep dark internet, the Reddit culture and these other dark places of the internet where this person was going deep."

Not mentioned by Cox was whether or not Robinson utilized AI chatbots, which have come under scrutiny for allegedly encouraging suicidal ideation among young people. The term AI psychosis has emerged as a way to describe someone who's lost connection to reality due to their relationship with an AI chatbot — but "AI psychosis," like "chronically online," is not a clinical term. Would clarification from medical experts on when online behavior crosses from simply unhealthy to downright dangerous help people before it’s too late? Maybe, but currently there is scant information on unhealthy internet behavior on HHS.com, the website of the government's Health and Human Services department. (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration department, a division of HHS, does provide suggestions for kids and youth navigating the internet.)

Dangerous online behavior can emerge when a mix of unhealthy factors is at play, says Saed D. Hill, PhD, a psychologist and masculinity coach.

"Some signs [of dangerous online behavior] include when one's online engagement starts to really fuel social isolation, rigid belief systems, it's always us versus them, or aggression against certain groups...then it is probably shifting from basic coping and escapism to full-on radicalization or potential for violence," Hill says. "Social isolation, mixed with aggression, and having trouble with relationships is a big sign, though. This is exacerbated by things like drugs, alcohol, and access to weapons."

Hill encourages those concerned about a loved one's online behavior to join them in offline activities and simply engage with them more. Counseling and therapy are also beneficial for those struggling with online attachment; connecting with other humans to explore unmet needs is always a better solution than "turning to the digital echo chambers that tech companies profit and thrive off," says Hill. 

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email [email protected]. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.