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Is Child Internet Addiction Real?
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For as long as the Internet has infiltrated the Western home, we’ve heard rumblings of Internet addition. Usually, Internet addiction is associated with a pornography addiction, but the term is actually far more encompassing than that. You can have an addiction to online poker, social networking websites or any other online activity. Now, cases of child Internet addition are becoming commonplace. How can you tell if you child or teenager is developing an Internet addiction? Let’s look at some of the most common symptoms.
Sudden Offline Mood Swings – As any parent of teenagers can tell you, keeping track of mood swings can be a full time job, but if you begin to notice a trend where your child or teen seems pacified online but angry or irritable offline, then you may be witnessing child Internet addition. Often times, a teen will sit down at a computer with the intent of only checking their email, and hours will pass with them surfing, chatting and downloading. It is important for parents to not overact if they think they a problem exists since teens are inherently emotional, but if the same behavior begins to exhibit itself on a regular basis, there could be more to the story.
Lying about Online Time – Just like alcoholics will blatantly lie about when they drink and how much they drink, victims of child Internet addition will lie about how often they go online and how much time they spend there. While spying on your child can backfire, if you can somehow monitor exactly how much time they are spending online and then compare it to the amount they claim they are spending, you can get an accurate gauge on how honest they are being. If you see a huge discrepancy, you may have a case of child Internet addition on your hands.
Shunning Real Life Relationships for Online Ones – Again, this can be a difficult one to monitor in teenagers since so many teens feel so awkward when it comes to forming real life friendships that they are likely going to gravitate towards online friends, anyway, but if you happen to notice your teen completely forsaking real life relationships for online ones, you have a problem. Chatting with friends or relatives online is perfectly healthy, but if this form of communication replaces regular communication, you likely have a case of child Internet addition in your home.
Pushing Boundaries Too Far – Being a teenager is all about testing and pushing boundaries. When you add in the perceived anonymity that the Internet offers, it can be like pouring gas on a fire. Withhold items such as web cams and microphones to prevent your child from posting pictures that could get them in trouble online or communicating via voice with people you don’t know. Also try to keep the computer in a public space, not in a bedroom, so that you can keep an eye on it at all times.
The first step in stopping child Internet addiction is knowing what to look for and how to stop it. It is only with vigilant parenting that you can stop your child’s downward spiral before it is too late.
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