New study reveals that internet addiction may change young people’s brain chemistry
New research suggests that young people addicted to the internet experience chemical changes in their brains that lead to more addictive behaviors.
according to ParentsThe study, published in PLOS Mental Health, examined the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
The findings revealed that during rest, activity in certain brain regions increases and connectivity in areas associated with active thinking decreases, affecting memory and decision-making.
In other words, Internet addiction affects the neural networks of the brain in young people, leading to addictive behaviors and behavioral changes related to mental health, development, intellectual abilities, and physical coordination.
The researchers examined 12 previous studies that involved 237 young people (aged 10 to 19) who were formally diagnosed with internet addiction between 2013 and 2023.
A survey this year found that almost half of British teenagers said they felt addicted to social media.
Max Zhang, lead author of the study and a Masters student at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University of London, said that during adolescence “the brain is particularly vulnerable to the urges associated with internet addiction”.
These include “compulsive internet use, a craving for mouse and keyboard use and media consumption,” because adolescence is when major changes occur in a person’s biology, cognition and personality.
“They may struggle to maintain relationships and social activities, lie about their online activities and experience irregular eating and sleeping disorders,” he said.
Chan added that he hopes the findings of this study will enable early symptoms of internet addiction to be effectively treated through therapy.
He stressed the importance of educating parents about internet addiction as “another preventative measure from a public health perspective.”
“Parents who are aware of the early signs and onset of internet addiction may be able to more effectively manage screen time and impulsivity and minimise the risk factors surrounding internet addiction,” he said.
