Screen Time Addiction: An Overview

Introduction

The internet has made its way rapidly into most homes globally. There are many aspects that make the Internet a boon to humanity. It offers an extensive repertoire of information made available at one’s fingertips, the ability to perform financial transactions without entering a bank, the option of connecting with others from any part of the world and also the added benefit of keeping oneself entertained on the go. Unfortunately, all the benefits and conveniences provided by the Internet have come at a price. While it does offer a host of benefits that make it immensely appealing, attention must also be paid to its addictive properties. The prevalence of excessive Internet usage has been observed by nearly everyone, not just mental health professionals or researchers. People have observed their children, spouses, friends and employees spiral uncontrollably towards the abuse of the internet. Internet abuse is also often referred to as Problematic Internet Usage (Davis, 2001), Internet addiction, Internet dependence, or even screentime addiction since the Internet is often accessed through various screened devices such as laptops, smartphones or tablets. For the purpose of this chapter, these terms would be used interchangeably as they are often used to refer to the same condition.

Internet addiction or abuse is a behavioural condition that involves excessive or compulsive use of the internet or digital devices, to the point where it interferes with daily life and causes distress or negative consequences. It is very similar to substance abuse or addiction as it is often characterized by excessive dependence on virtual content, disregard towards scholastic or vocational responsibilities, ignorance of familial duties and the tendency of lying about internet usage habits. Often, individuals that abuse the internet, use it as a coping mechanism to escape from reality. These symptoms are also accompanied by withdrawal symptoms as well as tolerance towards internet usage (Young, 1999). These symptoms lead to disastrous consequences in the lives of the person. These include financial issues, social isolation, sleep disturbances, academic and vocational problems, as well as physical and mental health-related issues.

Dr. Kimberly Young has done extensive work in the field of Internet Addiction. She has conducted numerous research studies on the topic and has also developed the “Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998) which gives a fairly accurate depiction of an individual's level of addiction to the Internet. She has also focused her attention on the advancement of therapeutic interventions specifically catering to overcoming Internet Addiction.

Dr. Young has identified the following types of Internet Addiction (Young, 1999):

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  Cyber-Sexual Addiction (addiction to pornographic content)

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  Cyber-Relationship Addiction (addiction to social media or chatting)

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  Net Compulsions (addiction to online shopping or gambling)

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  Information Overload (addiction to database searching)

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  Computer Addiction (gaming addiction)

Although every individual who owns a device with access to the internet will have the propensity to extend their screen time usage, some individuals may be more prone to developing a dependency or addiction to the internet. Risk factors for the development of internet or screentime addiction include difficulty coping with real-life stressors, inadequate social and interpersonal relationships, or pre-existing mental health issues. These factors can push an individual to use the internet as a way to escape from the present instead of facing it, making this behaviour a maladaptive coping strategy.