Internet addiction is the excessive use of the internet to the point where other life activities end up neglected. According to ResearchGate, internet addiction is a condition whereby a person is unable to control how long he/she spends on internet devices such as computers, laptops and phones.
Signs, symptoms and types of internet addiction
Addiction Center reports that types of IAD are: social media, online gaming, online dating, cybersex and compulsive information searching.
According to Addiction Center research, here are some of the signs and symptoms of internet addiction:
•Excessive internet use that increases over time
•Being unable to log off online even after attempting to
•Neglecting going to work or even do school assignments just to be online
•Using your computer or phone even after physical or psychological problems.
Below are 2 main causes of internet addiction according to research
Online gaming and entertainments
Watching movies and playing online games is a hobby to many youths. Idle people are often tempted to watch and play games online thus leading to an addiction.
People suffering depression
Internet is currently very entertaining thus depressed people use it as a form of relief. Most people believe that internet entertainments relieves relationship break up depressions. ResearchGate reports say that a person with IAD is likely to be suffering from depression and loneliness
Internet Addiction Disorder(IAD) analysis, Statistics and effects
According to PubMed Central report on internet addiction cited at National Institute of Health (NIH), IAD affects between 1.5% and 8.2% of the people in United States and Europe. This is viewed as a concerning rate.
The report says that IAD can cause neurological, psychological and social problems such as poor work and school performance
As reported by ResearchGate, regarding internet addiction, IAD is in high rate in countries which have developed technologically and have access to computers and phones. The data shows that men are more affected than females. The disorder is said to normally start in late 20's or early 30's in most cases.
Following Frontiersin.org 2024 research data on internet addiction to 1,690 students from 6 universities in Morocco, 30.60% of them have IAD with the report suggesting for an urgent solution to internet addiction in schools so as to stop health and social life harms as well as poor performance to the students.
According to Frontiersin.org, as of 2024, 5.35 billion, which is 66.2% of people across the world have access to internet. The increasing rate of internet users shows why researchers are asking for immediate IAD prevention
The disorder also causes, eyesight problems due to computer or phone light reflection in the eyes.
How to get rid of internet addiction
As per ResearchGate reports, IAD condition has no medication that treats it, but undergoing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or counselling can help.
According to therapists, management strategies such counseling and doing offline activities if adhered to, can help one avoid becoming an internet addict.
Disclaimer: The above article is for informational purpose only.
Sources linked: PubMed Central (NIH), ResearchGate, Frontiersin.org and Addiction Center
Story Updated on: September 7, 2026 by John Muia
READ ALSO:
•How to Easily Recover From Stress
•3 Common Embarrassing Situations and How to Overcome Them
John Muia is the founder and Editor in InstandTrend. The Journalist is experienced with skills in creative writing, news coverage and fact-checking in digital and print media.
Good work Sir.. Keep it up
ReplyDeleteNice article Mr jonteh keep it up
ReplyDelete