When the internet becomes a trap

Virtual happiness has many faces: a fantastic victory in a computer game, a popular post, or a great online shopping bargain. But all this can trigger a desire for more – increased adrenalin, more online interaction, even better bargains. Hours or even days and nights can pass. Internet addiction usually develops gradually until it can no longer be controlled – sometimes with serious consequences for the mental health of sufferers.  

A rollercoaster of emotions can result in addictive behaviour 

According to studies, around seven per cent of people worldwide engage in problematic internet use, while up to three per cent of young people suffer from a gaming disorder recognised as a disease by the WHO; the figures for Germany are similar. “Problematic internet use can cause functional impairments and psychological stress in day-to-day life that are similar to the effects of substance dependencies such as alcohol addiction,” says Professor Matthias Brand, Head of the Department of General Psychology: Cognition” at the University of Duisburg-Essen. These include symptoms of depression, social anxiety and attention deficit disorder. Brand’s research includes investigation of the neuronal processes that occur during internet use.  

Compulsive consumption – the first step towards addiction 

“In people with internet addiction we see an imbalance between the reward system and the brain’s control mechanisms,” says Brand. As is the case with substance addiction, the reward system is overactive, while the ability to control impulses is weakened. These changes can lead to sufferers continuing to consume compulsively even though they are aware of the negative consequences. 

“No need to panic” – not every passion is an addiction 

Study data issued by the Federal Centre for Health Education shows that average weekly use of digital media in Germany is on the rise, with an increase of four hours to 29 hours in 2023 being observed among young men aged between 18 and 25.

Not everyone who spends a lot of time online develops an addiction, however. Brand emphasises that there is “no need to panic”: “The vast majority of people use the internet to a tolerable extent,” he notes, adding that personal factors such as genetic predisposition, low self-control and early childhood experience are also key factors that influence the risk of becoming an addict. External factors also play a role, he says, such as work-related stress, lack of social support and family problems. 

Help is possible – internet addiction can be treated 

The good news is that internet addiction is treatable through psychotherapeutic methods that strengthen self-control and promote alternative strategies for the regulation of emotions. What is more, prevention programmes in schools can help promote the conscious use of digital media at an early stage – so as to protect children and young people at risk.