Cyber-Syndrome: Concept, Theoretical Characterization, and Control Mechanism

The prevalence of social media and mobile computing has led to intensive user engagement in the emergent Cyber-Physical-Social-Thinking (CPST) space. However, the easy access, the lack of governance, and excessive use has generated a raft of new behaviors within CPST, which affects users’ physical, social, and mental states. In this paper, we conceive the Cyber-Syndrome concept to denote the collection of cyber disorders due to excessive or problematic Cyberspace interactions based on CPST theories. Then we characterize the Cyber-Syndrome concept in terms of Maslow’s theory of Needs, from which we establish an in-depth theoretical understanding of Cyber-Syndrome from its etiology, formation, symptoms, and manifestations. Finally, we propose an entropy-based Cyber-Syndrome control mechanism for its computation and management. The goal of this study is to give new insights into this rising phenomenon and offer guidance for further research and development.