If people were tearing their hair out about internet gambling destroying democracy they would rightly be made fun of.

Internet gambling is discouraged/banned to the extent it threatens the local tax base, nobody cares about gambling addicts.

Facebook addiction is not recognized by the pros as a mental disorder and gambling addiction is?

Sure, but there was contestation about adding it to the DSM. Actually in DSM-V it's recommended to pursue further study into internet addiction.

What I'm really asking though is what lines you draw between something like 'social media addiction' and 'gambling addiction'? Or is the only difference in your mind the inclusion in the DSM?

I’m a frequent visitor to a few local card rooms and make regular trips to Vegas. I’ve seen and know addicted degenerate gamblers. It’s a totally different league from people wasting time on Facebook. I simply can’t imagine someone so self-destructively debilitated by their Facebook usage.

To me, Facebook use is a dirty bad habit like nail biting. It’s not a family-destroying addiction. Totally open to the medical establishment proving otherwise though.

If someone keeps losing their job because they can't sit still and concentrate for 25 minutes, you aren't going to hear about it. If you can't imagine that, then I'm afraid you're imagination needs a tune up.