Teenagers who spend lots of time on social media often complain of feeling like they can’t focus on important tasks like homework or spending quality time with loved ones.
A new study provides an objective view of these complaints, finding that teens diagnosed with internet addiction experience disruptions in brain signalling which are critical for controlling attention and working memory.
Published in the journal PLOS Mental Health, the study reviewed 12 neuroimaging studies conducted between 2013 and 2022 on adolescents aged 10 to 19.
The research found that excessive internet use can lead to significant behavioural addiction, disrupting the brain’s executive function network, which governs attention, planning, decision-making, and impulse control.
“The behavioural addiction brought on by excessive internet use has become a rising source of concern since the last decade,” the study authors noted.
They defined internet addiction as persistent preoccupation with the internet, withdrawal symptoms when offline, and sacrificing relationships for more internet time over an extended period.
Max Chang, the study’s first author of the study from University College London, explained that internet addiction results in significant impairment or distress in individuals’ lives.
Understanding its impact on adolescent brains, which differ from adults’, is crucial, the authors emphasised.
Internet use has been skyrocketing, with adolescents spending more and more of their waking hours online. With this has come an increase in adolescent internet addiction.
Teens with internet addiction showed substantial disruptions in brain regions involved in executive functions compared to their peers.
These disruptions may make behaviours requiring these functions more difficult, potentially affecting development and well-being.
Interestingly, the neuroimaging studies that met the authors’ criteria in terms of age range and formal diagnosis of internet addiction were all conducted in Asia, despite many cases of internet addiction in the West.
Currently, internet addiction is not included in the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), the standard classification of mental disorders used in the US, though it does list internet gaming disorder.
China was the first country to declare internet addiction a public health crisis.
Max Chang stressed that understanding the mechanisms of internet addiction is still an emerging field. Observing biomarkers like functional connectivity helps bridge the gap between brain activity and behaviour.
For parents concerned about internet addiction, Chang suggested looking for behaviours such as withdrawing from relationships.
He compared internet addiction to substance and gambling disorders, noting that it rewires the brain, making it harder to resist internet-related stimuli.
In addition to treating internet addiction, other underlying mental health conditions should also be addressed. Preventive measures include limiting screen time, taking breaks, and avoiding doom scrolling.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
