Many of today’s teens spend much of their time on computer monitor or smartphones, and are well-versed in online games to win real money. Parents who would prefer that their teen’s faces were buried in books might suspect the cause of this phenomenon is technology addiction.
Internets addiction is an umbrella term that refers to the compulsive need to spend a great deal of time on the internet relationships, work, and health are allowed to suffer. The person becomes dependent on using the internet. Internet addiction is a psychological disorder. Other names if internet addiction includes addiction disorder, problem internet use, pathological computer use, and heavy internet use.
What is the Internet and Computer Addiction? Explained
It should note that the term addiction is considered distracting by some professional. Kimberly Young, director of the center for addiction recovery defines technology addiction as a habitual compulsion to engage in using technology instead of addressing life’s problems. Internet or computer addiction manifest in several ways that cover various degrees and areas of internet usage like Information overload: Too much surfing leads to decrease productivity at work and less interaction with family. Compulsion: Excessive time spent in online activities such as gaming, gambling, trading of stocks. Cyber addiction: Too much surfing porn sites. Cyber-relationship: Excessive use of social networking sites to create relationships.
Teens are susceptible to technology addiction for several reasons. First, teens tend to have poor coping mechanisms in the face of stress they turn to what’s relaxing to them, they focus on videos, games and social media. It’s easy for them to wipe out a mobile in such their focus from the real world to the virtual world. An addiction to the internet is manifested in both physical and emotional symptoms. These signs are basically warning that the addiction may be developing.
A person who performs activities such as web browsing or online gaming, they interact with their family and friends less and less over time. They became unable to focus on work at hand. People who are depressed may use the internet as a type of “self-medication” allowing themselves to escape and ignore the problems they are currently facing by immersing themselves in the online world.
Since internet addiction is relatively new, it can be hard to find a real-life support group dedicated to the issue. There are some internet addiction support groups on the internet. As parents, if we severely limit a child, they may rebel and go to excess. But we should monitor their activities and internet usage. Expose kids to other hobbies and activities. Restrict the use of computer or tablets. Talk to your child about the underlying issue. Teenagers often rebel against their parents but if they hear the same information from any other person, they may be more inclined to listen. Try a doctor or any family friend. Don’t be afraid to seek professional counseling if you are concerned about your child.
