Internet addiction can trigger more addictive behaviors in young people.

New study reveals that an addiction to the internet may alter brain chemistry in young people
A new research suggests that young people with internet addiction experience changes in brain chemistry leading to more addictive behaviors.

According to The Guardian, the study published in PLOS Mental Health used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the brain.
The findings revealed increased activity in certain brain regions during rest and decreased connectivity in areas associated with active thinking, affecting memory and decision-making.
This means internet addiction impacts neural networks in the brains of young people, leading to addictive behaviors and behavioral changes linked to mental health, development, intellectual ability and physical coordination.
The researchers reviewed 12 previous studies involving 237 young people (from 10- to 19-year-olds) with a formal diagnosis of internet addiction between 2013 and 2023.

According to a survey this year, almost half of British teenagers say they feel addicted to social media.
Max Chang, lead author of the study and an MSc student at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (GOSICH), revealed that during adolescence, “the brain is particularly vulnerable to Internet addiction. Succumbs to related desires”.
These include “greater Internet use, mouse or keyboard use, and willingness to consume media” because of significant changes in people’s biology, cognition, and personality during adolescence.

“They may struggle to maintain relationships and social activities, lie about online activities and experience disordered eating and sleep disturbances,” he said.
Chang added that he hopes the findings will allow the early symptoms of Internet addiction to be effectively treated with therapy.
He highlighted the importance of parent education on Internet addiction as “another potential avenue of prevention from a public health perspective.”
He said: “Parents who are aware of the early signs and onset of Internet addiction will more effectively minimize screen time, stimulation, and risk factors related to Internet addiction.”