Emerging Behavioral Addiction and Diagnosis
Among Adolescents
Globally, technology use addiction is recognized as a legitimate medical condition. In China, internet addiction is a severe social problem as two million children are considered addicted. The government has created daily time limits for video game restrictions for children (under 18 years old). The owner of Tik Tok created a "youth mode" for children 14 and under, which includes a 40-minute daily use time between 6 am and 10 pm.
China has implemented different treatment programs for internet addiction including boot camps, E-sunshine camps, lockdowns, and E-workshops that teach internet use productivity skills (Pew Research Center, 2006).
China has established "fatigue systems" required in software applications to limit play times or else scores are penalized. Anti-addiction modes have been established including juvenile modes to enforce time limitations (Wescott, 2020).
Internet Cafes are restricted to 18+ and no new cafes are permitted to open (Pew Research Center, 2006).
Coined by the United Kingdom, nomophobia is the medical term that means "no mobile phone phobia". When adolescents are disconnected from their screens, they feel something that they define as "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out). (Bhattacharya et al., 2019)
Harm reduction (HR) strategies are necessary for parents since abstinence may not be realistic.