Good morning, everyone! I hope you all have a happy Thursday.

Today’s “Morning Links” theme centers around Internet users and “addiction”:

1. Be happy we don’t live in China: The Washington Post has a report on “Internet addiction” in China. How do they solve the problem?

Electro-shock therapy!

Ouch. Trust me, there’s been times I’ve wanted to electrocute myself while working with the web, but…ouch!

2. Your Igloo or Mine?: A very interesting Newsweek piece about kid-targeted “social” networking websites. How do they work, what kinds of environments are available, and how do they protect the users?

Kind of the opposite of China, here, huh?

3. Gates keeps close eye on kids’ computer time: According to Reuters, Microsoft founder Bill Gates “said he and his wife Melinda decided to set a limit of 45 minutes a day of total screen time for games and an hour a day on weekends, plus what time she needs for homework.” It appears he’s taking advantage of some of the new Vista features, such as the new “audit log” that “records sites they have visited and whom they’ve been instant messaging.”

Kind of like China, right?

Disclosure note: I am fully addicted to the Internet. Should I blame my parents, my country, or both?

Technorati Tags: China, Internet addiction, Bill Gates, social networks, what ever happened to the easy bake oven?