Do You Know a Child with Internet Addiction Disorder?




Did you know that nearly 23% of youth report that they feel "addicted to video games" (31% of males, 13% of females.)? These are the results of a study of 1,178 U.S. children and teens (ages 8 to 18) conducted by Harris Interactive (2007). 

 Is your child addicted to the internet? Here are a few warning signs to look out for:
  • Loses track of time while online
  • Sacrifices needed hours of sleep to spend time online
  • Becomes agitated or angry when online time is interrupted
  • Checks email or online messages several times a day
  • Becomes irritable if not allowed access to the internet
  • Spends time online in place of homework or chores
  • Prefers to spend time online rather than with friends or family
  • Disobeys time limits that have been set for internet usage
  • Lies about amount of time spent online or "sneaks" online when no one is around
  • Forms new relationships with people he or she has met online
  • Seems preoccupied with getting back online when away from the computer
  • Loses interest in activities that were enjoyable before he or she had online access
  • Becomes irritable, moody or depressed when not online
If any of these sound familiar, it may be time to look at addressing the situation.  I found a great article about Internet Addition Disorder that addresses the problem and what you could do to address it here: https://www.webroot.com/us/en/resources/tips-articles/internet-addiction-what-can-parents-do.

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