Internet Addiction

About Internet Addiction Disorder

Internet addiction disorder is used often to refer collectively to the excessive or obsessive need to spend a great deal of time on the internet and is a growing concern among children. While it has become an important tool in education it is also a highly entertaining medium, making it difficult to regulate screen time for kids . Unfortunately, these very qualities also make it an enticing escape for many children. With a single click they can enter a world with unlimited possibilities, no boundaries and a world far removed from the difficulties that a child might be experiencing on a day to day basis.

Similar to drugs and alcohol, the internet provides children and adolescents a way to escape difficult feelings or troubling situations. Children sacrifice hours of much needed sleep to stay online, withdrawing from family and friends to escape into virtual reality. Eventually this impacts their academic, social life and slowly but surely starts depleting their physical and mental health.

Video Game Addiction and Internet Addiction Disorder Symptoms

These are some of the signs that can indicate internet addiction, according to the American Psychiatric Association:

An individual wants to spend consistently increasing time online to feel the same sense of satisfaction.
An individual loses track of maintaining their relationships to spend time over the Internet.
An individual uses the Internet as a way to cope with negative feelings such as anxiety, low mood or guilt.
When they are unable to go online, they experience uncomfortable feelings like

Physical symptoms can include poor personal hygiene, headaches, unintended weight gain, backaches, or increased irritability.

Treatment for Internet Disorder Addiction

When virtual worlds and online friends become more important than relationships in the ‘real world’, and there is a sense of anxiety without them, then it’s a sign that help is needed.

While there are no medicines to specifically for Internet Addiction Disorder Treatment,, interventions like motivational interviewing and cognitive behavior therapy are helpful.

Internet Addiction Therapy

Internet addiction therapy follows a structure similar to working with other addictions to help children and adults regain their sense of control over accessing and using the internet.

Here Are Some Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Addiction Disorder

What causes Internet Addiction Disorder?

The underlying causes of internet addiction in children are multifaceted and may differ from child to child. However a common factor is that the social media, online gaming applications, unfettered access to overly stimulating content (sexual or violent) causes an increase in dopamine levels. The surge in dopamine is unhealthy and much larger than the increase children receive when they play a sport or read a book. What sets in then is a reward pathway and cycle of addiction similar to substances (drugs, alcohol, nicotine) which inhibits the user from making a rational choice. This is referred to as the loss of free will.

Can parental supervision reduce internet addiction?

Parent/s, guardians, or an assigned adult is responsible to control, direct and monitor a child’s internet usage. Without supervision, children can spend unhealthy, excessive amounts of time exploring websites, applications, and social media platforms which may be age inappropriate. Extended screen time then increases the risk of developing addictive patterns. Adequate parental supervision with clearly defined boundaries of time, devise usage and audits can play a pivotal role in managing and negating the onset of internet addiction.

Should children less than 6 years be given a phone connected to the internet?

Children in these ages should have minimal screen time. There should be absolutely no access to handheld devices without parental engagement. This includes giving your child a phone during social engagements or at a restaurant.

Are there guidelines for children between the age of 6 and 12 years?

For children in these ages parent/s need to build rules and regulations around screen time. It is important to keep a close watch on what content they are watching, searching and listening to.It is important to make sure they cannot download apps without parental supervision.

How do I approach internet usage with my adolescent?

Adolescents may be reluctant to talk about their usage and their own struggles with regulating screen time. To overcome these Invite the older adolescent to share their screen time data. Discuss how screen time impacts your own (parental) productivity.