| A growing trend is internet computer addiction | | | | is living out a fantasy life. The internet and |
| among teens. It is not a positive trend, | | | | computer is often an escape from reality for |
| unfortunately, but negative. This kind of addiction | | | | teenagers who feel they do not fit in with the |
| among teens is very often destructive and one | | | | real world. Either in chat rooms or with games, |
| that could have a major impact on not only the | | | | the teenager can be whomever they choose to |
| computer addict, but on his or her family and | | | | be. All it takes is a click of the mouse and they |
| friends also. | | | | are in their fantasy world living out their dream |
| Teenagers of today find that the internet and | | | | life, either in the form of a hero in a game to |
| computers are a necessity if they are going | | | | being somebody they are not in a chat room. |
| through high school. They need the internet and | | | | It is unfortunate that for a minority of teenagers, |
| computers to do research for their assignments. | | | | role playing of this kind turns into a full-on |
| If you don't have a computer you will get left | | | | addiction. Internet computer addiction among |
| behind in this information age. Internet addiction | | | | teens is very often the cause of family |
| among teens is not specifically targetted towards | | | | arguments because the teen will forgo social and |
| the teens themselves, even children in lower | | | | family events preferring to use their computer |
| grades will require a computer to research their | | | | instead. Very often an internet addict will stay up |
| assignments, but it all leads to one thing - | | | | all night playing games or using a chat room. In |
| computer dependency. | | | | the worst cases, teens will quit school or college |
| If a parent needs to combat internet computer | | | | favoring their computer and internet addiction. |
| addiction among teems, how are are they going | | | | Internet computer addiction among teens is very |
| to do it without confiscating the computer and | | | | similar to other teenage addictions, such as alcohol |
| depriving their children of it? It is not going to be | | | | or tobacco. Symptoms can include mood changes, |
| possible to stop their teens from going anywhere | | | | they can become withdrawn, bursts of anger and |
| near a computer. Computers are at schools, | | | | a huge impact on their social relationships. |
| internet cafes and with friends. These are just | | | | To prevent, and end, internet computer addiction |
| some of the challenges faced by the parents of | | | | among teens is somewhat a challenge. A parent |
| teens who are suffering from computer and | | | | of a teenager suffering from internet and |
| internet addiction. | | | | computer addiction should act upon it as soon as |
| So, what sort of signs do parents of teens | | | | they see the symptoms by trying to limit the |
| addicted to the computer have to look out for? | | | | amount of hours the teenager spends on the |
| Internet computer addiction among teens ranges | | | | computer. Encouraging the child to take up other |
| from being addicted to games to spending hours | | | | pastimes or hobbies can in most cases turn their |
| and hours in chat rooms. Either way, the teenager | | | | attention away from the computer. |