Internet addiction in teens is on the rise because of the popularity of social media. You may have noticed your teen withdrawing from in-person events, or maybe they spend most of their time staring at their screen.
Venture Academy has experienced professionals who are accustomed to helping teens unplug and rejoin the world. Help your teen overcome social media addiction by contacting Venture Academy today. Our team can teach your teen strategies and skills to help them overcome internet addiction.
Is Internet Addiction Really an Addiction?
Addiction is a potent disease that can rearrange your teen’s life in harmful ways. In the case of internet addiction in teens, social media acts as the “substance” your teen is abusing. Social media is designed to encourage continued use and can often lead to very low self-esteem as your teen compares their life to the lives of others.
Because social media is a self-renewing cycle, there is always new content and information to take in. This can mimic the way that an alcoholic may begin to drink more as they form tolerance. The interconnectivity of social media supports dependence. This means that your teen may experience some withdrawal symptoms, such as depression or anxiety, when they cease using social media. So, internet addiction is most certainly a form of addiction. So, how do you know if your teen may have an internet addiction?
Signs of Internet Addiction
Social media addiction can cause your teen to struggle with many issues, such as:
- Depression
- Self-esteem issues
- Narcissism
- Substance abuse
- Lying
Because social media works as a cycle of addiction, it reinforces the addiction in your teen’s life. This can open the door for your teen to abuse other substances like alcohol or drugs. You may think that your teen will never experience these issues. But when they are inundated by messages from celebrities and influencers who sell them products and show their own use of drugs or alcohol, your teen is more likely to experiment. Experimentation can quickly lead to the addiction cycle.
Signs of internet addiction to watch for in your teen include:
- Serious emotional responses, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, or irritability if their internet access is taken away
- Lying about the amount of time spent on the internet or social media
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Obsessed with online friends, influencers, websites, or apps
- Checking online presence first thing in the morning, all through the day, and before sleeping
- Loss of interest in activities that previously brought joy, such as sports or hobbies
- Avoiding life responsibilities such as schoolwork, an after-school job, or chores around the house.
- Disengaging from friends and family
Internet addiction in teens can destabilise your whole household. If you have observed the signs of internet addiction in your teen, it is crucial to find them the help they need. Our team at Venture Academy can help your teen process addiction so that they can get back to being their best self.
Overcome Teen Internet Addiction Today with Help from Venture Academy
If you feel that your teen is showing some of the signs that they may be struggling with a teen internet addiction, an intervention may help them to reset their life and grow. With Venture Academy’s 30-day assessment, intervention, and behaviour treatment programs, we can guide them to finding positive ways to cope with the stress of life.
Your teen may need more positive outlets for expression, and our goal is to help guide them to the right learning tools while supporting their journey. If you are still unsure, contact us at 866.762.2211 or consider taking our interactive child behaviour test. Make today the day that you help your teen overcome internet addiction.
