Addictive Internet and Kids
- Greg Taylor
- Aug 26, 2024
- 1 min read
Internet usage can certainly manifest addictive characteristics, but can a person become addicted to the Internet?
Jeff Reiland, a childhood family therapist at Bellin and Gundersen Health System, says “when we look at addiction and addictive behaviors, the parallels between what happens in adults and children’s brains when they’re exposed to too much screen time is remarkably similar to the things that happen in the brains of people who are addicted to substances.”
Reiland says those traits include a preoccupation with the behavior, the inability to get enough of it, the loss of interest in other activities, and a decline in academics or social circles.
Unlike physical substances that people begin using in their teenage years or older, Internet and screen time consumption begins at a much younger age - a time when the brain isn’t fully developed.
Though less screen time is best, Reiland admits that it’s challenging today when smartphones are so ubiquitous in our everyday lives.
Fifty years ago this wasn’t a problem, because most homes had just one screen - a television. Now, that average has risen to 18. A good start, he said, is if schools were to remove smartphones specifically during school hours.
According to the Plainview News, you can search for Jeff Reiland’s Parenting Tips podcast from Gundersen Health System for suggestions on how to handle screen time, and other parenting tips.
It’s important for parents to set boundaries and create healthy habits early on. If it starts to become a bigger issue, outpatient treatment can be an option for addressing addictive behaviors without disrupting daily routines. Outpatient programs provide professional support and guidance while still allowing kids to attend school and engage in regular activities. Monitoring screen time and encouraging alternative hobbies can help prevent overuse before it escalates. Finding a balance is key to making sure the internet is a tool, not a trap.