Compulsive Internet Usage By Kids Robbing Them Of Real World Experiences.
With kids ages 8 to 18 spending on average 44.5 hours per week in front of screens, parents are increasingly concerned that compulsive internet usage is robbing them of real world experiences. Nearly 58% of youth report that they feel "addicted to video games" (% of males is more than % of females.)
Almost one out of every ten youth gamers shows enough symptoms of damage to their school, family, and psychological functioning to merit serious concern.
Beyond gaming, kids are filling their free time with other internet activities: social networking, instant messaging (IM), blogging, downloading, gaming, etc.
The following potential warning signs for children with pathological Internet use:
• 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
Management tips
• Address the problem
• Show your care
• Checking history folder and internet log
• Parental monitoring software
• Set reasonable rules and boundaries.
Dr Anshul Mahajan
Consultant psychiatrist