Internet Addiction

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The rapid growth of smartphones, tablets and computers has led to a significant increase in daily internet use. While many people rely on the internet for work, school and communication, some Americans experience patterns of use that researchers describe as “problematic” or compulsive.

According to The Center for Internet & Technology Addiction, research found that in 2024, 35% of people had an internet addiction, with 85% of Americans online daily. More concerning are the findings that young people average eight hours of screen time per day.

While internet access and social media have revolutionized how we share and access knowledge, internet use becomes problematic and compulsive when people are unable to control their use, regardless of how it negatively affects their lives.

Signs and Symptoms of Internet Addiction

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) has not listed internet addiction as an official disorder. However, it has been formally recognized by the American Psychological Association. Countries like China and South Korea have also recognized internet addiction as a problematic health issue.¹ Internet addiction disorder (IAD) has also been referred to as:¹

• Problematic internet use (PIU)
• Computer addiction
• Internet dependence
• Compulsive internet use
• Pathological internet use

Just because you use the internet frequently, like watching YouTube videos, shopping online, or checking social media, it does not mean you necessarily have an internet addiction. The trouble begins when these activities start to interfere with your daily life.

Although the DSM-5 has not officially recognized IAD in its standard textbook, certain internet addiction symptoms have been identified to characterize this condition. Including:¹

• Preoccupation with the internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)
• Need to use the internet for increased amounts of time to achieve satisfaction
• Unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop internet use
• Restlessness, moodiness, depression or irritability when attempting to cut down or stop internet use
• Staying online longer than originally intended

Additionally, at least one of the following internet addiction symptoms must be present:

1. Jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job or educational or career opportunity because of the internet
2. Lied to family members, a therapist or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the internet
3. Use the internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)

Risks Associated with Internet Addiction

As with any technology, there are associated benefits and risks. Social media allows people to find information, connect with resources and causes and is a form of socializing and communicating.³  The downside to social media use, especially for teens, includes cyberbullying, cons and fraud, identity theft, predators, sexting and exposure to inappropriate content.^3,4

According to a recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center, it found that across social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, one-third of teens use at least one of these sites almost constantly.

The amount of time teens spend online increases the probability of developing mental health complications. Parents and other adult figures play a key role in monitoring adolescent social media use to prevent them from engaging in risky behavior.

The causes of internet addiction are not well researched, but some factors coincide with those of substance use disorders.⁵ Research suggests that people with internet addiction have brain changes similar to those with drug and alcohol addiction.⁵

IAD, in addition to other dependency disorders, seems to affect the reward center of the brain. The use of the internet triggers a release of dopamine, which causes the person to experience pleasure and feelings of well-being associated with the behavior.

Over time, more and more of the activity is needed to induce the same pleasurable response, leading to tolerance and subsequent dependence, meaning they need to engage in internet use to avoid withdrawal, such as moodiness or depression.^1,5

Long-Term and Short-Term Effects of Internet Addiction

Spending increased amounts of time online poses serious mental health risks, such as higher rates of anxiety and depression. Researchers recently discovered a phenomenon called “Facebook depression,” which occurs when teens spend a lot of time on social media and then start displaying signs of depression.³

One reason social networking sites may cause depression is that people tend to compare themselves to others on social media. Often, what is depicted on social media is not reality.⁵

Similar to (offline) depression, adolescents who struggle with Facebook depression are at risk for social isolation and often turn to the internet and sites that endorse substance abuse, unsafe sex and aggression.³

Among social media users:

• 37% of teens feel that social media has mostly harmful effects on people their age
• 53% of women report pressure to look perfect on social media
• 56% of people report feeling FOMO due to social media
• 50% of people have experienced a decrease in self-esteem due to social media
• 31% of men say they feel pressure to have a perfect body due to social media
• 41% of people have edited their photos before posting them on social media

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) states that 13 years is the minimum age to create a profile on most social media sites.  However, many pre-teens lie about their age to create a profile, a practice that can be potentially dangerous given all of the harmful content they may interact with and internalize.

How to Treat Internet Addiction

Behavioral addictions and substance use disorders often respond positively to the same psychosocial and pharmacological treatments.⁶ Common interventions that have been used to treat behavioral addictions like internet addiction include:⁶

• 12-step approaches
• Self-help support groups
• Motivational enhancement
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy

If the internet addiction is severe, formal treatment programs are available, with inpatient rehab being the most intensive and structured option. A stay at an inpatient treatment center can last from 30 days to several months. For more flexibility, individuals can receive internet addiction treatment on an outpatient basis, which involves living at home and attending treatment sessions during the day.

Both inpatient and outpatient treatment for internet addiction may include:⁷

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Helps patients recognize, avoid and cope with the situations in which they are most likely to use the internet or social media
• Family group therapy: Developed for adolescents and their families, this type of therapy addresses a range of influences on internet use patterns and is designed to improve overall family interaction
• Motivational interviewing: Works with people’s readiness to change their behavior and enter treatment
• Holistic treatment methods: Yoga, meditation and creative arts therapies can be highly beneficial holistic interventions that can aid in internet abstinence.

Can Internet Use Cause Substance Addiction in Adolescents?

Social media use can lead to drug and alcohol misuse in the adolescent population.^8,9,10 According to a survey conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, teens ages 12 to 17 who, in a typical day, spent any time on social networking sites were at increased risk of smoking, drinking and drug use. ^8,9,10

The United Nations International Narcotics Control Board also warns that illicit internet pharmacies have started using social media to target younger populations.⁸

Compared to teens who spent no time on social networking sites in a typical day, teens who did were:^9,10,11

• Five times more likely to have used tobacco
• Three times more likely to have used alcohol
• Twice as likely to have used marijuana

Teens who have been cyberbullied are more than twice as likely to smoke, drink and use marijuana compared to teens who have not been cyberbullied.^9,10 Among analyzed Adderall-related tweets, 8.9% mentioned another substance (including illicit drugs), promoting poly-substance abuse via social media.^10,11

Additionally, the highest volume of Twitter (X) content (roughly seven out of 10) originated from illicit online pharmacies advertising the sale of medications with no prescription required.¹¹

Although “internet addiction” is not formally recognized as a standalone diagnosis, problematic internet use can significantly affect mental health, relationships, academic performance and work productivity.  The good news is that evidence-based treatments such as CBT, family counseling and structured digital boundaries can help individuals regain control and restore balance in their lives.

If you suspect your teen or someone you know is struggling with addiction, call our helpline at 800-681-1058 (Sponsored) to find a rehab program near you today.

Resources

1. Cash, H., Rae, C. D., Steel, A. H., & Winkler, A. (2012). Internet Addiction: A Brief Summary of Research and Practice. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 8(4), 292–298.
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Social media can influence teens with pro-drug messages.
3. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2016). Teens’ social media use: How they connect and what it means for health. 
4. O’Keefe, G., Clark-Pearson, K. (2011). The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. The American Academy of Pediatrics, 127(4).
5. Chou, C., Condron, L. & Belland, J.C. (2005). A Review of the Research on Internet Addiction. Educ Psychol Rev 17, 363–388.
6. Grant, J. E., Potenza, M. N., Weinstein, A., & Gorelick, D. A. (2010). Introduction to behavioral addictions. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 36(5), 233–241.
7. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Treatment approaches for drug addiction.
8. Common Sense Media. (2012). Social Media, Social Life: How Teens View Their Digital Lives.
9. Pantic, I. (2014). Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavioral and Social Networking, 17(10): 652-657.
10. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. (2011). National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and parents. 
11. Eysenbach, G. (2013). Digital social media, youth, and non-medical use of prescription drugs: The need for reform. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(7): e143.
12. Laudet, A. B., Savage, R., & Mahmood, D. (2002). Pathways to long-term recovery: a preliminary investigation. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 34(3), 305–311.