Report on Management of Internet Addiction

The number of internet users grew by over 319 million in the 12 months since January 2020, reaching a total of 4.66 billion users worldwide. The average time spent on smartphones increased by 40% from 4.9 hours in 2019 to 6.9 hours in 2020, with a general uptick in consumption of Over The Top (OTT) content, online gaming, and social media platforms. While there is no widely accepted definition of internet and technology addiction disorder, it is often referred to as an "impulse control disorder" which may or may not involve a stimulant. Internet addiction can manifest as a psychological dependence on the internet, regardless of the type of activity an individual engages in post logging in. Excessive internet use often involves a high degree of online activity that exceeds what an individual considers normal or planned, and problematic technology use implies issues with impulse control related to use. Studies have shown that internet addiction can lead to distress, impairment of life functions, and is often related to several other psychological comorbidities such as stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and suicidal thoughts. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) recognizes Internet Addiction Disorder as a behavioral or impulse-control disorder, and a subtype or related disorder, Gaming Addiction disorder, has been included in the DSM-5. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also taken an official stance to classify Gaming Addiction as a medical illness in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). A meta-analysis of studies conducted in over 31 countries across all major regions of the world found the prevalence rate of Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) to be approximately 6% in the general population, which is over three times higher than the prevalence of pathological gambling. The Middle East countries had the highest prevalence at 10.9%, Asian countries had a higher than average rate of prevalence at 7.1%, and Europe had the lowest rate of 2.6%. In the Indian context, a survey of over 2,755 individuals found the prevalence of internet addiction to be at 1.3%, while overuse of cellphones was prevalent in 4.1% of the respondents. A study conducted by Scherer found the prevalence of IAD to be at 14% among the college-aged population, while a national survey conducted in South Korea found adolescents to be at the highest risk of technology dependence at 13.1%, followed by adults at 5.8% and then children at 5%. In India, a study conducted with over 987 high school students found approximately 0.7% to be addicts, and over 24.8% to be possible addicts. The use case for addicts was more concentrated on activities such as social networking, chatting, and downloading media files. The prevalence of internet addiction varies across different age groups and regions, with adolescents being at the highest risk of technology dependence. The Indian context has shown a relatively low prevalence of IAD in the general population, but a higher prevalence among college-aged individuals and adolescents. Further research is needed to deepen collective understanding of the prevalence and implications of internet addiction and other related addiction disorders.