It’s no surprise that as nearly three-quarters of U.S. teens have access to a smartphone, many say they are online “almost constantly.” Some worry that this could be negatively affecting their physical and mental health.
Though Internet addiction is not yet a clinical diagnosis in the U.S., the American Psychiatric Association included “Internet Gaming Disorder” in the appendix of a 2013 update to their diagnostic manual to prompt further research. Other countries, including China and South Korea, already treat excessive Internet use among teenagers through counseling and boot-camp-style treatment centers.
Is screen addiction, or screen obsession, a concern for teenagers?
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