Behavioral addictions entered mainstream research in the late 20th century, beginning with studies on gambling, compulsive shopping, and emerging digital habits. As internet access expanded, researchers noted patterns of repetitive, high-engagement consumption related to sexual content, prompting comparisons to other reward-based behaviors. Historically, governments and health institutions relied on substance-based frameworks to define addiction, but the rise of digital stimuli challenged these boundaries. Over the past two decades, neuroscientific studies and sociological analyses have explored how constant exposure to online intimacy, imagery, and novelty influences brain pathways and social functioning. This debate is grounded in the broader history of how societies classify, respond to, and medically understand evolving forms of compulsive behavior shaped by technological change.