The Internet is inundated with bogus
names and undisclosed identities. This is one of
the lures for people with maladaptive cognitions
such as low self-esteem to engage in pathological
Internet use. Dr. Kimberly S. Young hypothesized
that those who suffer from deeper psychological
problems may be the ones who are drawn the most
to the anonymous interactive capabilities of the
Internet in order to overcome these perceived inadequacies.
For example, people with low self-esteem may give
themselves awe-inspiring bogus names just to raise
their sense of worth. In light to the anonymity
that the Internet provides, Paul Gallant, a licensed
addiction counselor at the Sierra Tucson Center
for Addiction in Arizona says, "Your life may
be really boring in reality, but online you're a
competitive superhero."