Hooked on the Net: Internet Addiction in Today’s Teen

As the medium of modern media moves farther away from television and steps ever closer to the internet, the amount of time that young people spend online has naturally increased. Many parents are able to monitor their child’s online activity in the same way that they would television activity. They simply lay down standards and communicate with their kids what is and is not acceptable. Sadly, there are kids who activity goes unchecked and they eventually find themselves spiraling downward in an addiction to the pseudo reality that can be found in online communities.

The plethora of things to do online is only growing exponentially. From chat rooms to instant messaging to internet pornography, the possibilities of things that can occupy a teenager’s time are endless. It has only gotten worse with the popularity of such sites as Youtube and Myspace. Teens are spending countless hours viewing videos, chatting with friends and strangers, posting blogs, and many other things. Many technologically uninformed parents choose to allow their adolescent unlimited sessions on the internet because they may not understand its detrimental qualities. But there are several negative aspects that internet addiction can create for adolescents who are vulnerable and impressionable.

For many teens, the communities that they participate in online are a place of refuge. The internet provides the ability for young people to find others with common interests and similar likes. The feeling of acceptance can be overwhelming when you are welcomed into a new community. Many teenagers, who are naturally uncomfortable with their appearance anyway, are content to exist within these communities because they feel safe there, and free from judgment. The danger is, of course, that the people who populate these communities may not always be what they appear. As parents, it is imperative that we be vigilant in monitoring who our kids are interacting with and what they are planning.

There are warning signs that an observant parent can pay attention to before the addiction gets too serious. If your teen is either constantly talking about the internet or integrating his other daily activities with the internet, there is a strong possibility that the teen is addicted. Many internet addicted teens also show a decline in their daily hygiene and appearance because they would rather spend that time doing something on the internet. Besides, if they’re spending all that time on the internet, they figure they don’t have to smell good for anybody because nobody will come into contact with them. They may also choose to sleep less - staying up late and waking up early - so they can spend even more time on the internet. In some cases, the adolescent’s academic grades may drop, the time spent in their social activities decrease, and there is a decreased interest in any hobbies that do not involve the internet.

Not all agree that this is a serious problem. Some view the internet as an new form of community that can actually improve our kids ability to communicate and allows them the freedom to develop relationships with people who share similar interests. The most important thing is that parents are involved. Just like every other aspect of your kids lives, know who they are spending their time with and what they are doing when they are together. Let your kids know that you check up on them and are concerned, not because you don’t trust them, but because you may not trust those who are sitting at a computer on the other end.

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