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The Internet itself is not good or bad — it is in many ways a useful and necessary part of the modern world. Most adults can keep the situation under control by visiting online pages only as needed. However, curious child, getting into the virtual space, tries to “squeeze” out of it as much as possible — movies, social networks, music, games and chatrooms. Often at the expense of real life. What are the signs of Internet addiction in a child? How to cope with the problem? We’ll talk about that in today’s article.
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“My son is only 9, but he already skillfully plays many computer games, and understands modern gadgets. It’s started to scare me lately. Teachers complain about my son’s bad behavior — he serfs the Internet from smartphone or plays games even in class. His grades started to slip because he does not have time to learn the lessons properly because of the endless games. When everyone is already going to bed, my son could quietly turn on the computer and browse the Web or run the shooter. I do not know how to properly address his excessive love for gadgets. I don’t want to spoil our relationship and provoke aggression from the child.”
– Anna, mother of 9-year-old Yuriy
Internet addiction is an obsessive desire to constantly be online and a painful inability to timely “switch” to real life. [1]
Many children aged 5-12 often get caught up in interesting hobbies. it doesn’t matter if it’s a collection of stickers, weaving bead bracelets, or online games. If a child gets unlimited access to gadgets and a computer connected to the Internet, he/she quickly gets “sucked in.” One click and the child is already on the world wide web, where he can find a lot of entertainment, get away from problems, and become who he wants. If timely prevention of Internet addiction is not ensured, the teenager becomes so fond of virtual space that he replaces reality with it, spending up to 18 hours a day on the net.
The status of Internet addiction in adults and children as a mental disorder has not yet been established by official medicine. According to many experts, the mechanism of its formation is in many ways similar to alcohol, nicotine and drug addictions. Another similar example is Internet gaming addiction. Recent studies show that the amount of dopamine (pleasure hormone) produced during video gaming is comparable to that of certain drugs. [2]
What is the danger of Internet addiction in children?
According to psychiatrist K. Young, there are 5 types of Internet addiction. Children under 15 are usually exposed to only three of them. [3]
How do specific types of addictions manifest?
| Type of Internet-addiction | Features of a child’s behavior |
| Gaming addiction | The child spends all his free time playing online games. He/she eats little and pays little attention to the studies. The child does not notice how time flies away, and can not break away from the game for a minute. He can spend all his pocket money to buy games and “upgrades” of heroes |
| Dependence on social networks | The child practically ceases to communicate with his peers. His/her friends are “faceless” interlocutors in chat rooms and forums. Gradually, it becomes difficult for a child to meet new people, he loses skills of real-life communication |
| Obsessive web surfing | The child constantly navigates the net on different sites. There is no specific purpose — its only banal clicks on links and a lot of unnecessary information. If a child has no access to a computer, he has a gadget in his hands all the time. |
Though innocuous at first sight, the fascination with online games and social networks can develop into a harmful habit. So, what are the reasons for children’s addiction to computer and the Internet?
1. Child’s shyness and insecurities
This is one of the most common causes of Internet addiction in adolescence. It is difficult for shy children to communicate with their peers and to find new friends. On the Internet, they can forget about their insecurities, hiding behind a beautiful avatar and a cheeky nickname. But while virtual communication becomes a habit, later it will be even more difficult for a child to communicate with the people around him.
2. Intra-family conflicts
A child often hides in the virtual world to avoid family scandals. For him it is a great way to get away from complains and reproaches of parents and avoid listening to their quarrels.
3. Stresses
What difficult situations in life may motivate a child to immerse himself in the virtual world? Bullying in school, loss of a loved one, unhappy love, serious illness and hyper-care of parents. In a state of stress, an under-formed personality instinctively looks for a space in which it will feel comfortable. The world of social networks or online games can become such a platform.
4. Excess free time
How to spend free time? Of course, to connect the gadget to the Internet. When the child has few friends and no serious hobbies, he/she combats boredom in the simplest way possible — by playing games, watching movies and online-chatting.
5. Parental irresponsibility
It happens that parents themselves offer the gadget to a child so that he/she does not interfere with their work. Very often children under 7 are thus distracted, because it is during the preschool period that children ask a lot of questions, learn to interact with the world around them and require a lot of attention. All this can lead to quarrels, the annoyance of parents and manipulation on the part of children.
“During this period of life parent’s interaction with the child is very important, but many parents prefer not to waste their time and energy, not to explain to the child what is good and what is bad, but simply to give him/her a gadget, turn on the game and step away from the stressful situation. This is how the child’s addiction starts to develop.”
– Elena Krasnova, Psychologist at the Institute of Distance Psychology in Russia
The fact that modern children spend a certain amount of time a day “online” is considered a normal situation. It would be wrong to diagnose Internet addiction in everyone who has available gadget with access to the Internet. However, it is important to understand what signals will help you to timely notice the problem.
Several questionnaires are used for psychological diagnosis of computer addiction. They include a short test for Internet addiction from psychiatrist K. Young, which she developed in 1996. It can also be used for self-diagnosis of Internet addiction in a child. The test includes 8 statements to be answered in the affirmative or negative: [3]
If you have answered in the affirmative to 5 or more statements, we recommend thinking about solving the problem.
“My son is 15. It’s been a year since he got involved in online gaming. I can’t tear him away from the computer at all! He plays until I start yelling at him. During the school holidays he does not move from the screen from early morning until late evening. He does not go on walks or socialize with anyone. It’s only his favorite game that matters. It’s impossible to get my son to do anything around the house. He has one answer: “later.” Naturally, he does not fulfill his promises. I reprimanded him many times and even snatched all the computer wires from the socket once. I was frightened by my son’s reaction — he turned pale, lips and hands were shaking and he was screaming like crazy. I don’t know how to help him get rid of Internet addiction. I’m afraid for my son; because of games he became twitchy, talks to himself and almost stopped sleeping.”
— Ekaterina, mother of 15-year-old Sasha
From the age of 10-12 starts an awkward age. Everything escalates — insecurities, fears, and doubts. Affected by heightened emotions, children are especially vulnerable to Internet addiction, since virtual space gives them the illusion of importance and is a way to get away from numerous problems. It is in early adolescence that children discover social media and online games for the first time.
Like with other non-chemical types of addiction, it is easier not to allow it to occur at all, rather than treating the addiction to computers and gadgets in the future. Therefore, parents should first of all pay attention to the prevention of Internet addiction. According to psychologists, the following actions on the part of parents should be effective:
Gaming addiction in teenagers, associated with the computer or the Internet, does not always pass with age. Initially, the “escape from reality” alone is not dangerous. A serious problem appears when a teenager begins to experience strong emotions in his/her “refuge”. They include victories in online games, and romantic relationships online, and the reputation with anonymous chat partners. Such positive bonuses of virtual life become for him the same as drugs for an addict.
Banning the use of computers and gadgets, removal of child’s accounts from social networks are the most widespread methods used by parents who are concerned about the development of the teenager’s Internet addiction. This is a radical step that usually only makes the situation worse. A child deprived of online games and communication with virtual friends will respond with open or hidden aggression, which can be a serious test for relationships in the family.
Computer addiction in teenagers does not appear out of nowhere. As a rule, it is only a consequence of psychological, emotional or interpersonal problems. A combination of negative factors is also possible. In adolescents, it is better to treat internet addiction by identifying specific causes thereof.
When neither trusting conversations nor prohibitions “work” in the fight against Internet addiction, it is important to timely consult a psychologist. Most often, it’s not only the child needs help, but also his parents.
One effective way to get rid of teenage Internet addiction is to change the pathological behavior pattern. The patented 7Spsy behavior modification technique is geared towards this. The program is based on the scientific theories of I.P. Pavlov, B.F. Skinner, A.A.Ukhtomsky, etc. The Internet addiction is treated by replacing negative mindset with a positive one.
The program is designed for 2-6 weeks. The classes take place remotely, which saves time of the child and parents. Support and help of psychologists, provided by phone, e-mail, and online chats, will help to get rid of the addiction in a comfortable mode. If the child is shy, they won’t have to discuss their problems with a psychologist, as with standard consulting. You don’t need to inform teachers about the course, tell relatives and friends about the program — the participation in the program is completely confidential.
One day your child will thank you for helping to deal with a problem that could affect his/her future.
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