Nowadays, most teens cannot imagine one day without internet. Teenagers are often more tech-savvy than adults and they manage to master every new technology. the fact is that being a teenage is stressful and studies shows that internet can increase this stress. teenage internet addiction is an issue that most families are dealing with nowadays. teenagers’ interest in internet can turn into an obsession and this obsession can turn into and addiction and depression which is extremely hard to give up.
Furthermore, internet addiction among teenagers need to be taken care of. Spending too much time on the internet is not only bad for their health, but also it can contribute to mental disorders. Also, their safety might be put at risk. Teenagers might get involved in sexting. They might even become a victim of cyber bullying.
signs and symptoms of teenage internet addiction
These signs and symptoms may indicate that your teenager is addicted to internet:
- They put internet above things such as friends, family, and hobbies
- Internet usage has affected their school grades
- Loss of sleep and staying up late
- Feeling anxious when away from internet
- Unhealthy eating patterns
- making many online friends and meeting unsafe people online
- Neglect of appearance and hygiene
why teens become internet addicted?
There are many reasons for teenage internet addiction. One the most common reasons is that anxiety over life, school, or relationships can make internet seem more appealing than real life. Internet is an escape from all the hormones and emotions that make teenagers distressed. Teenagers tend to develop an online identity different from their real identity and in this way, they can get the attention that they missed in real world. All of these reason can be contributory to teenage internet addiction. Parents need to be fully aware of them.
How to treat internet addiction
Determining the optimal solution for teenage internet addiction depends on their age, and the severity of the issue. Teen internet addiction treatment involves techniques used in any sort of Addictive therapy. The first thing is to give the teenager a sense of clarity. they must first feel sure that there is a problem that needs to be resolved. then teenagers need to find out what sort of needs triggers their internet use and a replacement needs to be found. Therapists also help teens during teen internet addiction treatment to identify what sorts of feelings or experiences they might have that are leading to their addiction, such as stress or conflicts at school, or at home.
