{"id":5361,"date":"2023-01-31T12:57:58","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T09:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T00:22:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T21:22:52","slug":"internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/","title":{"rendered":"Internet Addiction in Children: Causes and Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"&#13;\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, the internet has become an indispensable part of our lives. Children and young people, in particular, are turning to the internet more and more for reasons such as peer acceptance and social validation. This situation is giving rise to the problem <strong>of internet addiction<\/strong>, especially <strong>among<\/strong> school-age <strong>children<\/strong>. This article will provide information on internet addiction, including its causes, symptoms, treatment methods, and preventive measures families can take.   <\/p>&#13;\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_78 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#What_Is_Internet_Addiction_and_What_Are_Its_Diagnostic_Criteria\" >What Is Internet Addiction, and What Are Its Diagnostic Criteria?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#What_Are_the_Signs_of_Internet_Addiction\" >What Are the Signs of Internet Addiction?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#Stages_of_Internet_Addiction\" >Stages of Internet Addiction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#Treatment_Approaches_for_Internet_Addiction\" >Treatment Approaches for Internet Addiction<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#Farmakoterapi\" >Farmakoterapi<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#Psikoterapi\" >Psikoterapi<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#Aile_Terapisi\" >Aile Terapisi<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#Destek_Gruplari\" >Destek Gruplar\u0131<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#Sanal_Dunya_Terapisi\" >Sanal D\u00fcnya Terapisi<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/#Egitim_ve_Farkindalik_Programlari\" >E\u011fitim ve Fark\u0131ndal\u0131k Programlar\u0131<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Internet_Addiction_and_What_Are_Its_Diagnostic_Criteria\"><\/span><strong>What Is Internet Addiction, and What Are Its Diagnostic Criteria?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>&#13;\n<p>Internet addiction is a type of behavioral addiction that falls under the category of technology addictions. <strong>Kimberly Young<\/strong> defines internet addiction as \u201can impulse control disorder that does not involve the use of intoxicating substances.\u201d There are eight criteria established by Young for diagnosing internet addiction, and individuals who meet at least five of these criteria are considered to be internet-addicted. <\/p>&#13;\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Signs_of_Internet_Addiction\"><\/span><strong>What Are the Signs of Internet Addiction?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>&#13;\n<p>Symptoms of internet addiction include tolerance\u2014that is, a desire to spend an increasing amount of time online; lying about the extent of internet use; using the internet as an escape from problems; a constant desire to control or reduce internet use; and a significant decline in academic and professional performance.<\/p>&#13;\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stages_of_Internet_Addiction\"><\/span><strong>Stages of Internet Addiction<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>&#13;\n<p>Internet addiction progresses through five stages. The first stage is the intensification stage, during which the individual\u2019s internet use increases. The second stage is called the progression stage, and the individual begins to use the internet frequently and for long periods of time. The third stage is the withdrawal stage, during which the harm experienced has reached a peak and the individual is eager to break free. The fourth stage is the relapse stage, during which the individual\u2019s previous strict stance against the internet has dissolved. The fifth stage is known as the return to old habits stage, during which the individual begins to use the internet intensively once again.     <\/p>&#13;\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Treatment_Approaches_for_Internet_Addiction\"><\/span><strong>Treatment Approaches for Internet Addiction<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>&#13;\n<p>The goal of the various approaches used in the treatment of internet addiction is to help individuals manage their addiction and improve their quality of life. The primary approaches include pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and family therapy. Here are the details of these methods:  <\/p>&#13;\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Farmakoterapi\"><\/span><strong>Farmakoterapi<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>&#13;\n<p>In pharmacotherapy, the primary goal is to treat underlying psychiatric disorders. If pathological internet use is not a symptom of another psychiatric disorder, mood-stabilizing medications are preferred because it shares similarities with impulse control disorders and bipolar disorder. These medications help control the individual\u2019s emotional fluctuations, thereby having a positive effect on the addiction.  <\/p>&#13;\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Psikoterapi\"><\/span><strong>Psikoterapi<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>&#13;\n<p>In psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, in particular, can be effective in treating internet addiction. This therapeutic approach aims to change the negative thought and behavior patterns that lead to addiction. The following are techniques that can be applied in CBT:  <\/p>&#13;\n<ul>&#13;\n<li>\u0130nternet kullan\u0131m\u0131n\u0131 tam z\u0131t saatlere kayd\u0131rmak<\/li>&#13;\n<li>D\u0131\u015f durdurucular (external stoppers) kullanmak<\/li>&#13;\n<li>\u0130nternet kullan\u0131m\u0131yla ilgili hedefler belirlemek<\/li>&#13;\n<li>Belirli bir i\u015flevden uzak durmaya \u00e7al\u0131\u015fmak<\/li>&#13;\n<li>Hat\u0131rlat\u0131c\u0131 kartlar kullanmak<\/li>&#13;\n<li>\u0130nternet yerine yapmak istediklerini not edebilece\u011fi ki\u015fisel bir defter kullanmak<\/li>&#13;\n<\/ul>&#13;\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Aile_Terapisi\"><\/span><strong>Aile Terapisi<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>&#13;\n<p>Family therapy plays an important role in the treatment of internet addiction. The family is of critical importance in terms of the addicted individual\u2019s participation in the treatment process and the support they receive. The key areas of focus during family therapy are as follows:  <\/p>&#13;\n<ul>&#13;\n<li>Ailenin internetin ba\u011fl\u0131l\u0131k yapabilece\u011fi konusunda e\u011fitilmesi<\/li>&#13;\n<li>Ba\u011f\u0131ml\u0131 ki\u015finin davran\u0131\u015flar\u0131 nedeniyle su\u00e7lanmas\u0131n\u0131n azalt\u0131lmas\u0131<\/li>&#13;\n<li>Ki\u015fiyi internet \u00fczerinden psikolojik ihtiya\u00e7lar\u0131n\u0131 kar\u015f\u0131lamaya y\u00f6nlendiren ailevi \u00e7at\u0131\u015fmalar\u0131n a\u00e7\u0131k bir \u015fekilde konu\u015fulabilmesini sa\u011flama<\/li>&#13;\n<li>Aileyi ba\u011f\u0131ml\u0131 ki\u015finin tedavisine yard\u0131mc\u0131 olmalar\u0131 i\u00e7in cesaretlendirme (yeni hobiler edinmesi, uzun bir tatile \u00e7\u0131kar\u0131lmas\u0131, ba\u011f\u0131ml\u0131 ki\u015finin sosyal etkinliklere kat\u0131lmas\u0131n\u0131n te\u015fvik edilmesi gibi)<\/li>&#13;\n<\/ul>&#13;\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Destek_Gruplari\"><\/span><strong>Destek Gruplar\u0131<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>&#13;\n<p>Support groups are a great help in treating internet addiction. People struggling with addiction come together with others facing similar issues to share their experiences and support one another. Thanks to these groups, those with addiction feel less alone and can regain their self-confidence. In addition, successful treatment processes and coping strategies can be shared within the group.   <\/p>&#13;\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sanal_Dunya_Terapisi\"><\/span><strong>Sanal D\u00fcnya Terapisi<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>&#13;\n<p>Virtual world therapy is an innovative approach that contributes to the treatment of internet addiction by using computer simulations or virtual reality environments. This method helps reduce symptoms of addiction by enabling the individual to establish healthier and more harmonious social interactions within virtual environments. In addition, this therapeutic method teaches individuals how to cope with the sources of stress and anxiety that lead to addiction.  <\/p>&#13;\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Egitim_ve_Farkindalik_Programlari\"><\/span><strong>E\u011fitim ve Fark\u0131ndal\u0131k Programlar\u0131<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>&#13;\n<p>Education and awareness programs aim to reduce the risk of internet addiction. These programs can be organized in schools, universities, and workplaces. The programs provide participants with information and skills regarding healthy internet use, the signs of addiction, and how to overcome this problem.  <\/p>&#13;\n<p>In conclusion, multiple approaches can be used in treatment, and the effectiveness of these methods may vary depending on the individual\u2019s characteristics and needs. For this reason, it is important to seek professional support during the treatment process and to determine the appropriate treatment methods. <\/p>&#13;\n<p><strong>You Might Be Interested In: <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/uyku-bozukluklari\/\">Sleep Disorders in Children<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>&#13;\n&#13;\n<div style='text-align:center' class='yasr-auto-insert-visitor'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#13; Today, the internet has become an indispensable part of our lives. Children and young people, in particular, are turning &#8230; <a class=\"cz_readmore\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/internet-addiction-in-children-causes-and-effects\/\"><i class=\"fa fa-sign-out\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span>Devam\u0131n\u0131 Oku.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[109],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psychologist"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5361"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5362,"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5361\/revisions\/5362"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cocukpsikiyatricuneytozcan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}