560,000 Germans are addicted to the Internet

560,000 Germans are dependent on the Internet

26.09.2011

More than half a million people in Germany are addicted to the Internet. One study revealed that girls appear to be more addicted to Internet addiction than boys. They play, chat and surf social networks like Facebook. In many cases, addicts neglect real emotional relationships, dodge school, or barely work.

The internet has long since become not just a huge knowledge base for informing or simply sending emails. More and more people are developing a veritable Internet dependence over time, as a newly presented study on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health determined. According to this, 560,000 young and old have already developed an Internet addiction. According to the study data, about 1.0 percent of the 14- to 64-year-old Germans are dependent on surfing the Internet, chatting or playing, as the Federal Government Drug Commissioner Mechthild Dyckmans (FDP) said today in Berlin on presentation of the study results. In addition, 4.6 percent of all age groups (2.5 million) already displayed a problematic user behavior on the Web. This means the endangered people have evidence or signs of online addiction.

Internet addiction should be explored more
In this context, the politician announced that PC and Internet addiction will be more in the focus of their future work. In order to protect children and adolescents better from the addictive potential, Dyckmans wanted to set an extended focus. With psychologists, social workers and experts, the Drug Commissioner now wants to clarify the extent to which an addictive risk of particularly dangerous online games go out and how an age restriction could protect against the addictive potential.

According to the studies of the Universities of Lübeck and Greifswald, adolescents are particularly at risk from online addiction. In the study with the working title: "Prevalence of internet dependency (PINTA I)“ it is described that the internet dependency particularly affects young people between 14 and 24 years old. Here the dependency ratio is already 2.4 percent. A problematic use of the Internet is already shown by 13.6 percent of young people. The number of Internet addicts is comparable to the number of cannabis addicts, said the FDP politician.

Young women and girls especially endangered by internet addiction
While the Web was a male domain only a few years ago, more and more women and girls are regularly online. Meanwhile, young women and girls show a high risk of addiction, as the study authors explain. According to the data, 14- to 16-year-old girls show a higher potential for internet addiction than boys. Compared to boys (3.1 percent), girls are 4.9 percent addicted to the Internet. Particularly the constant and long stay in social networks is for this development in the opinion of the researchers chiefly responsible. „We suspect that girls and young women are particularly receptive to the affirmations found in social networks“, said the researcher Hans-Jürgen Rumpf from the University of Lübeck. 77.1 percent of addicted girls are already using the online social networks excessively. Online boys (33.6 percent) are especially popular among boys of the same age. For the dependent girls these online offers play only a subordinate role with only 7.2 per cent.

Indicator of an incipient internet dependency
As young as the Internet is still so unclear is still the Internet addiction characterized by the scientists. The addiction is usually defined by a number of other abnormalities in the behavior of those affected. When surfing or using, for example, those affected lose any sense of time. They therefore use the web almost permanently and show withdrawal symptoms, if once an online connection is not available. Accordingly, a person as „Online Addict“ classified, the „only lives in the online virtual world“. Subjects with withdrawal symptoms were aggressive, listless, bored and irritable when they were unable to connect to the Internet. Other attributes could also stem from a drug addiction. So the addicts often used the Web as a flood before real negative emotions. Some showed absenteeism at work or at school. Other neglected friendships in the real world.

The Drug Commissioner said she will now commission the development of standard diagnostic procedures to pave the way for therapeutic treatments. Therefore, the Federal Ministry of Health has already commissioned a further study to determine detailed data. Thus, one can create timely recognition options and intervene therapeutically early. One thing is already clear, a therapy must be firmly anchored with a strengthening of emotional self-esteem. Because in the virtual world, many dependent users find their recognition and fulfillment, which is often denied them in the normal world.

Notes for affected parents
During the study presentation, Dyckmans presented an offline brochure for parents whose children seem to have problems with their stay on the Internet. „As always, it depends on which offers parents can make to compensate their children“, said Gritli Bertram, social worker from Hanover. Many children no longer know how much fun a board game can be. At least with the younger children, it can make sense to encourage them to play. It is important that you are there.“ Overall, internet times should be limited. A complete ban, however, the social worker considers exaggerated. „Take some time out with your children and make them feel they have a say“.

More than 15,000 people between the ages of 15 and 64 participated in the prestigious survey of universities. So far, the study is the only one in the field of Internet addiction that has ever been conducted in Germany. So far, the different data collections were still too low to make actual statements. (Sb)

Also read:
Eating Disorders through Facebook Usage?
Warning about online discussion of mental health problems
Every third child victims of cyber-bullying