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Not all addictions come in bottles, lines, or needles.
  • May 20, 2025
  • Comments: 49
  • Posted by: cbtkeadmin

More often than not, tell-tale signs of problematic internet behavior fit right in the palms of our children’s hands; glowing from screens and buzzing with notifications curated with algorithms to deliver a continuous dose of digital dopamine. From toddlers glued to tablets to preteens gaming for hours and teens scrolling endlessly for likes and validation, digital platforms have become the new “feel-good” escape. Yet, beneath the surface of this convenience lies a deeper concern.

Children as young as 1 year are exposed to screens as a distraction or soothing mechanism. While this may offer short-term peace, the losses far outweigh the gains in the long run. Emerging evidence suggests that excessive screen use is associated with delayed emotional growth, poor impulse control, and weakened coping skills. Despite the benefits, constant use compromises children’s brain development.

There also appears to be a link between Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and environments that lack supportive parental involvement. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depressive symptoms, disrupted sleep, and attention difficulties are also concerns that should not be overlooked. Unlike alcohol and substance dependency, behavioural addictions are challenging to diagnose and manage because they often blend into the routine of everyday life.

For instance, a child who games into the early hours each night after finishing homework may believe they are unwinding until fatigue becomes frequent, school performance declines, interest in face to face friendships fades, and gadget based isolation becomes the norm and when they’re away from devices, frustration, irritability, and restlessness may follow.

Children with neurodevelopmental conditions first diagnosed in childhood, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or autism, are at greater risk of developing screen-related problems. This is partly because they already experience heightened sensitivity to stimulation and tend to hyper-focus on preferred activities.  Although screen time can be a go-to coping and learning tool, it can also be a gateway to problematic internet use. Therefore, parents must be aware of their role in shaping children’s digital habits.

A 2023 study in the Journal of Behavioural Addiction showed that authoritative parenting, which is firm yet warm and supportive, is linked to lower rates of adolescent screen addiction, while strict parental attitudes, punitive or laissez-faire, increase vulnerability to digital overuse.

Hence, supportive and engaging environments can help children and adolescents develop coping skills to engage mindfully with technology. We need to be aware that demonizing technology can worsen the situation. Instead, candid conversations in forums, workshops, or social media groups can empower parents to identify red flags. When we set up structures that create room for support, quality time, and learning from each other, we can raise a generation that engages with the digital world without losing touch with the real one.

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Author: cbtkeadmin

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