A new study published in the journal Injury Prevention this week revealed that adolescents who are addicted to the Internet are twice as likely to harm themselves as kids who are not addicted to the World Wide Web.
The study was conducted in China, a country with a growing obsession with Internet addiction and increasing government resistance to their citizens’ Internet connectedness. The study followed 1,618 students aged 13-18 in Guangzhou City, Guandong Province. In the study, 90% of the kids were identified as “normal” Internet users, nearly 10% as slightly addicted, and 0.6% as severely addicted to the Internet.
Teenagers with either degree of Internet addiction said they experienced depression and anxiety when they were not online, and were more likely to harm themselves than non-addicted teens. They were also more likely to seriously harm themselves than were other, non-addicted teens.
It’s an interesting study that raises interesting questions. Which came first, the depression or the Internet addiction? Does excessive Internet use cause kids to become depressed, anxious, and prone to self-injury? Or are depressed and anxious kids more likely to turn to the Internet to soothe and distract themselves? It’s probably a little bit of both, but hopefully future research can provide more answers.
In the meantime, many guilty American parents may question the researchers’ definition of “internet addiction” …. since it’s possible many of us have it. I confess I spend at least eight hours online for work and school every day, and I admit I get antsy when I can’t check email daily. Am I an addict?
Maybe. Maybe not. But the Internet — like so many things including reading, TV, outdoor play, and food – is good or bad depending on how we use it. Here are some basic facts about “Internet addiction,” kids’ internet use, and some ideas for raising kids who can self-monitor and set good boundaries.
Internet Addiction: The Definition
There’s a lot of scholarly debate about whether “Internet Addiction” or “net compulsion” should be considered a true psychiatric disorder. Until the professionals make up their minds, some basic characteristics give a picture of an Internet addict:
- excessive use (especially when the user seems to lose their sense of the passage of time)
- withdrawal symptoms when they can’t get online
- increasing tolerance (meaning they need more and more to get the same enjoyment, as with any addiction)
- negative effects (including social isolation, or neglect of other basic life functions)
- tendency toward depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders
Kids & Internet Use
- The average American kid spends 6.5 hours a day with media
- Most of this time is spent multi-tasking (surfing the web while watching TV and listening to music, etc.)
- The average American kid spends 48 minutes per day online
- 31% of American kids have a computer in their bedroom
Setting Internet Rules & Teaching Kids to Monitor Their Own Use
- Set a good example. If you worry that you spend too much time online yourself, make an effort to cut back, and talk about your efforts with your family. “I don’t want to waste too much time online, but it’s so easy to do. Hey, guys, help me remember that I want to spend more time doing (some other fun thing), and tell me to get off the computer! “
- Make it public. Pull the computers out of the bedrooms and keep them in the family public space. That way you’ll all be accountable to each other for the what you do online and how long you spend doing it.
- Set Internet use rules that are continent on other responsibilities. A rule like “You can only go online after you’ve finished your homework, done your chores, practiced piano, and spent 30 minutes outside,” will teach your child about priorities … and keep them busy enough that online time will be short.
- Set time-based Internet use rules (1 hour a day), and STICK TO THE RULES.
- Discover what activities captivate your kids online, and introduce them to a real-world equivalent (if appropriate).
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