Family Life Month Packet 2002

Family and Consumer Sciences

Campbell Hall 1787 Neil Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43210

Untangling the Web for Internet Addicted Adolescents

FLM-FS-12-02

Joyce A. Shriner, MSHCS, CFLE,
Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, Hocking County,
Ohio State University Extension, The Ohio State University

As the Internet grows in popularity with youth, parents are beginning to face new challenges—some adolescents are becoming addicted to the Internet. There are many reasons for this emerging concern including the pervasive appeal of the Internet, lack of parental supervision, and the developmental immaturity and naiveté of adolescents.

The Youth Internet Safety Survey (Finkelhor, Mitchell, and Wolak, 2000), a national telephone survey of 1,501 youth, ages 10-17, found that the primary target group for Internet victimization is teenagers who are 14 years of age and older. The survey also found that approximately 1 in 5 youth had received a sexual solicitation and 1 in 4 had unwanted exposure to sexual material through the Internet at least one time during the past year. The vast majority of the incidents occurred while the youth were using their home computer. Almost half of the youth did not report the incident(s) to anyone. Research suggests that online sexual behavior is much higher for individuals who are addicted to the Internet (Greenfield, 1999).

Parents tend to think that using the Internet is a positive way for youth to spend their time, and it can be, if used wisely. However, many parents do not understand how computers work and/or they do not take the time to supervise their children's use of the Internet. Unlike other forms of childhood entertainment (e.g., playing video games, watching TV/movies, listening to music) which often have parental advisories, the Internet does not. It is completely unregulated. Parents must then exercise their right and responsibility to supervise their children's use of the Internet.

Power of the Internet

In his book Virtual Addiction, Dr. David N. Greenfield suggests that the unique characteristics of the Internet may be contributing to the addictive tendencies. The characteristics include:

• Easy Access—With the click of a button, users can connect to sites across the world—twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. There is no end to the information that is available. There is always another link to click and another site to visit.
• Stimulation—The brilliant colors, fast pace, ease of use, and interactive qualities make the Internet an exciting experience. Users can interact in stimulating social and intellectual exchanges as both participants and observers.
• Anonymity—Inhibitions felt in real life are removed because users do not know each other. They can be whoever they want to be. If users are unhappy with their real life, they can create an ideal virtual life.
• Timelessness—Most Internet users admit to losing track of time while surfing the Net.

Clearly, the Internet is a powerful tool. While it can be used in many wonderful and helpful ways, the Internet can become "a substitute for what you didn't have or couldn't find in life" (Young, 1998, p. 115). According to Greenfield (1999), "experiences that can prompt you to forget who and where you are and create an altered state of consciousness are quite powerful" (p. 28).

Defining the Problem

Internet addiction can be defined as an uncontrollable use of the Internet, including "distress, functional impairment, and psychiatric disorders" (Shapira et al., 2000, p. 272). How can parents tell if their child is becoming addicted to the Net? As with other problem behaviors, family members and friends often recognize that something is wrong before the one who is addicted (Young, 1998).

Warning signs of Internet addiction include:

• Sleep Patterns—Are your teens staying up until the early morning hours and having a hard time getting up in the morning? Are they late for school? Do they fall asleep during the day?
• Time on-line—How much time do they spend on-line?
• School Work—Have their grades dropped? Are assignments turned in on time? Are they having difficulty concentrating?
• Extra-Curricular Activities—Have your teens lost interest in activities they once enjoyed?
• Computer Use—Do they insist on privacy while using the computer? Do they delete the Internet history (a log of sites visited)? Have they set up a password-protected personal account? Do they click off a site when you walk near the computer?
• Telephone Expenses—Are your long-distance charges higher than usual? Have you been billed for calls to unfamiliar numbers? Are you surprised by the number of minutes your phone line is being used?
• Personal Mail/Gifts—Does your teen receive personal mail/gifts from people that you do not know? Is your teen willing to talk about the contents of the letter/package?

If you have noticed three or more of these signs continuing over a period of time, it would be wise to seek help.

Getting Help

When you talk with your child, remind him or her of your love and express your concern about the changes you have noticed (e.g., dropping grades, moodiness, fatigue). Listed below are suggestions to help your child regain control.

• Request a Time Log—Ask for a written log of the hours they spend on-line each day including a listing of what was done (e.g., chatting, e-mailing, using instant messages). Do not allow your child to eliminate the computer's history log.
• Establish Clear Limits—Set rules about the number of hours that your children can be on-line. If they disobey the rules, you may have to change the password to control their access.
• Keep the Computer in a Common Area—Place the computer in your dining or living room and walk by several times while your children are on-line to let them know they are being monitored. Keep the modem with you if your teen gets home before you do. You may also want to keep it in your bedroom at night.
• Encourage Real-Time Activities—Help your teens re-connect with groups they previously enjoyed or encourage them to explore new interests.
• Talk to Your Child's Teachers—Share your concerns with your child's teachers and guidance counselors. They can help by watching for any changes in behavior and monitoring Internet use at school and by keeping you informed of any assignments that require the use of the Internet.

If your child denies having a problem with Internet addiction or refuses to abide by the limits above, you may want to seek professional help.

Helpful Resources

Here are a few resources to turn to if you think your child is becoming addicted to the Internet. Several have self-tests for Internet addiction and advice.

• Dr. David N. Greenfield's book Virtual Addiction and web-site http://virtual-addiction.com
• Dr. Kimberly S. Young's book Caught in the Net and web-site http://netaddiction.com
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's report Online Victimization: A Report on the Nation's Youth. For a free copy call 1-800-843-5678.
• Report on-line crimes electronically at www.cybertipline.com or call 1-800-843-5678
• Internet safety tips for parents: http://www.getnetwise.com
• Internet addiction recovery program at Proctor Hospital—phone 1-800-522-3784. At McLean Hospital log onto www.computeraddiction.com

References

Parents have a right and a responsibility to supervise their children's use of the Internet.

For a pdf version of this Fact Sheet, please click here.

For more information, visit the Human Development and Family Life website at: http://www.hec.ohio-state.edu/famlife/