Teen internet addiction treatment

What is Teen Internet Addiction?

Nowadays, technology is intertwined with modern society and has drastically changed the way we lead our lives, because of this teenage internet addiction and teen internet addiction treatment programs have become more widely accepted as a real mental health issue. The more profound impacts on how the internet affects our mental aptitudes, emotional well-being, and general health are not widely known. Numerous organizations have done several studies on the subject, and one report has shown that 77% of Americans are regularly online.

It is a well-accepted phenomenon that surfing on the internet, watching random videos on YouTube, or interacting on social media platforms is not particularly harmful. In some studies, it has been verified that teens who are addicted to the internet may give birth to addiction in teenager and suffer from depression, anxiety, and mental health issues. However, a select few spend such an immense amount of time and energy on the internet that it starts to affect their basic day-to-day living. When this behavior starts to overshadow someone’s responsibilities – relationships, work, school – then odds are it has turned into a deep-rooted addiction.

Signs and Symptoms Of Teenage Internet Addiction:

Internet addiction in teens is a fairly common phenomenon that affects many teens in Los Angeles, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Westwood, Pacific Palisades, or Beverly Hills. Although the rest of the world isn’t very different in that regard. People from all walks can suffer from internet addiction and often manifest a slew of common symptoms. Several studies have shown that one might become addicted to the web by spending a lot of their idle time watching videos, scrolling through social media, or playing online games.

In any case, the person suffering from addiction might start exhibiting one or some of the symptoms stated below.
  1. Increase in sudden mood changes.
  2. Overly conscious about the internet and its activity. This includes being worried all the time about what’s happening online or about their footprint on the internet.
  3. Unable to properly manage their time.
  4. They need to spend a lot of time online to feel better, often isolated from their surroundings.
  5. Withdrawal symptoms like depression and lack of motivation.
  6. Use of the internet even after arguments with loved ones or damage to their social and professional life.
If any of this seems familiar to you, we strongly advise taking proactive measures and contacting the nearest Los Angeles Teen Internet Addiction Treatment Program.

Types of Internet Addiction in Teens:

Teen Internet addiction has been rising in Los Angeles and nearby areas. This addiction encompasses many practices and self-control issues, including using the internet, PC, or other portable devices. While the term “internet addiction” doesn’t have an agreed-upon global classification, it can be broadly categorized into five types. Here are different types of internet addiction in teens:-
1. Cybersex Addiction

Cybersex addiction is one of the more commonly known internet habits. This includes online pornographic media, grown-up sites, sexual fantasies/adult role-play talk rooms, XXX webcam services. Getting addicted to any of these services could negatively impact creating real-life healthy, loving, or sexual relationships. Patients often go to a Los Angeles Teen Internet Addiction Treatment Program, where they are given the best possible therapy through an evidence-based teen outpatient program.

2. Net Compulsions
Net compulsions are online activities that can be life-threatening, like internet betting, stock exchanges, online closeouts, and excessive web-based shopping. These activities may seem harmless initially but can negatively affect one’s financial situation and work-related obligations. Losing a large amount of money can cause friction with partners or relatives. With the rise of online casinos and easy money stores, it has become very common for teens to get addicted to gambling.
3. Online Relationships Addiction
Digital relationship addicts spend most of their time finding and keeping up connections on the web, often neglecting real-life social interactions. Virtual relationships are created in online rooms, where one can talk to people from all over the world. Some individuals like to create a fake persona, disguising their appearances and role-playing as someone else. When this is done with the intent to blackmail or trick someone, it is called “catfishing.”
When individuals create a new, idealized version of themselves, their social abilities might start to deteriorate. Face-to-face interactions with their digital acquaintances are usually complicated, sometimes due to living in entirely different countries or because they don’t resemble the persona they had been projecting. This makes it nearly impossible to form genuine bonds with genuine people. For these cases, at Key Healthcare, we have a Teenage Internet Addiction Treatment Program that can help them regain their social skills and give them a chance to move out of the internet world and connect with people in real life.
4. Information Seeking Addiction
Internet addiction in teenager is very common nowadays because of the growing use of technology. Another primary form of addiction is information seeking. The world is a vast, exciting place. While knowing everything is impossible, seeking to expand one’s horizons is to be expected. The web has a massive collection of information, unlike any other. It is safe to say that one of the best uses of the internet is to find out the answer to something that was puzzling you. However, an issue emerges when one starts to rely on the internet for every single thing.
People have become so dependent on the internet that it’s easy to forget that experts know better than what some random forum poster might say. Not to mention, a large number of people are looking to fool others, making them believe in things that don’t exist. An information-seeking addict might make the mistake of trusting everything they read. It is common to see teens who feel ill go on the web and look up their symptoms. In doing so, they are vulnerable to misinformation and scammers.
False information can end up needlessly scaring teenagers. Instead of going to the doctor, they would rather believe what they read on the internet and perhaps even self-medicate. Other significant issues are the proliferation of malicious rumors and fake news. It is imperative to seek treatment for this type of addiction as soon as possible and help teenagers comprehend what’s true and what isn’t.
5. Video Game addiction
Video Game addiction, or simply gaming addiction, is the act of playing online or offline games on a computer, console, or mobile device for extended periods. Digital devices are a common sight in every household, and the presence of games has been steadily increasing since the likes of Solitaire, Tetris, and Minesweeper. Scientists have found out that playing games for vast amounts of time can quickly become an issue. Addicted office workers, for instance, might see a sharp decline in their productivity.

Nowadays, there are thousands of games available on every kind of electronic device. While gaming is not a harmful activity, it can become a problem when it affects work, studies, or social interactions. If your teenager is suffering from internet addiction, contact us today to learn more about our Teen Addiction Treatment.