Media addiction in children
Prevention & Recognize symptoms

The line between frequent internet use and media addiction is blurred. Even those who play games or use social media platforms on a daily basis are not automatically addicted.

The decisive factor is whether the person still has control over their media consumption. An addiction can exist if the user's behavior can no longer be controlled. For example, if withdrawal symptoms or mood swings occur without media consumption. The loss of hobbies and social contacts, lying about the extent of use and absences from school can also be indications. Another typical characteristic is that online activities are continued even though negative consequences such as physical and psychological impairments are already noticeable.

The question of why someone becomes addicted to social media or computer games is difficult to answer and has not yet been clearly clarified scientifically. However, there are certain factors that can encourage excessive media use. These include, for example

• Personal factors such as loneliness, shyness or low self-esteem,
• depression, stress, fear (of failure), the inability to cope with problems or poor behavioral control,
• the social environment, for example lack of attention within the family or lack of acceptance from peers in the real world,
• Failures or a lack of success in everyday life,
• boredom, for example due to insufficient leisure activities,
• critical life situations (e.g. separations or school problems).

The following tips will help you to make your child "media fit" and prevent excessive media use:

• Take an interest in the digital world that excites your child. Get involved and play, stream or surf along. This will make the fascination more understandable and your child will feel taken seriously.
• Talk to your child about games, content and media experiences. If you know what your child is doing on the screen, you can provide sensible support and set limits if necessary. Here are Ideas for starting the conversation.
• As parents, you have a role model function. Check your own media behavior and set a good example.
• Create a respectful family environment in which your child feels valued. This strengthens self-confidence and encourages your child to confide in you when problems arise.
• Digital time-outs are important. Provide stimulation and alternatives to smartphones, games consoles & etc., for example in the form of joint activities or leisure activities.
• General bans are not very helpful in the long term and are more likely to lead to secret gaming, streaming or surfing. Instead, agree fixed times of use together. Show your child that you trust them to stick to these agreements. The website www.mediennutzungsvertrag.de will help you with this.
• Many parental control programs offer the option of restricting the use of apps to certain time slots. They also usually provide an overview of daily or weekly use. In consultation with the child, these technical tools can help to adhere to the agreed usage times and keep track of usage.

Is it still "normal" for my child to spend several hours a day in front of a smartphone, computer, tablet or games console? When it comes to screen time, many parents are understandably unsure. First of all, not everyone who sits in front of a screen for long periods of time is equally addicted. Time spent in front of a screen is only an indication and is not conclusive on its own.

It is normal for children and young people to be spellbound by digital worlds at times. New offers in particular are often used intensively. As soon as the attraction of new games, apps etc. wears off, other interests take center stage again. Frequent media use is therefore not problematic per se.

As a parent, you should first observe what your child is doing online, what content they are exposed to, how much time they spend online and how they are feeling - both physically and mentally.

Has your child been gaming, using social media or streaming for over a year and lost control? Games, social media or streaming come first and other leisure activities and tasks such as school, hobbies and friends are neglected? Is your child aware of the negative consequences and still can't stop using media?

Then it may be a case of pathological behavior that requires further support. Questionnaires and online tests can provide initial information on whether media use is already at risk. We have linked two recommended offers below. However, it is important to know that these questionnaires can only provide an initial indication and cannot replace a medical assessment.

In order to seek a conversation with the child, parents can refer to this Discussion guide on problematic media use in adolescents from www.ins-netz-gehen.de to help them.

If your child withdraws more and more into digital worlds, it is important to talk to each other again. It doesn't help much to simply ban media use across the board.

• Approach your child openly. Draw your child's attention to your perceptions in a conversation and talk without reproach about the media offerings that your child can no longer do without.
• Look for the reasons for the excessive consumption. What is your child missing in real life? What unfulfilled wishes and needs does he or she have? What are their worries and problems?
• Make changes to the environment and offer alternatives. Encourage and organize leisure and activity opportunities in the family.
• Encourage your child toresume previously practiced  hobbies. Group activities and experiences in particular provide a useful counterbalance to virtual experiences.
• In consultation with your child, also make use of technical options(settings in apps or parental control programs) to regulate their use in terms of time.

Seek professional help

If you realize that you cannot solve the problem on your own, do not hesitate to seek professional help. Get support to help your child stop using media excessively. Contact points are, for example, pediatricians or family doctors, addiction and family counseling or psychologists or psychotherapists.

Nummer gegen Kummer
The child and youth helpline and the parents' helpline are anonymous and free advice services, including on the subject of excessive media use. Counseling is also available by email.

Children's and youth helpline: 116 111
(Mon. to Sat. from 2 - 8 p.m.)

Parents' hotline: 0800 - 111 0 550
(Mon. to Fri. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tues. and Thurs. until 7 p.m.)

Advice on the Internet: nummergegenkummer.de

Addiction & Drug hotline
It offers telephone advice, help and information from experienced drug and addiction support professionals. People with addiction problems as well as their relatives, friends or colleagues can contact the addiction & drugs hotline.

Hotline: 01806 - 31 30 31 (daily from 8 a.m. to midnight, 20 cents per call)

Fachverband Medienabhängigkeit
You can find advice and contact points here: fv-medienabhaengigkeit.de/help-finden

JUUUPORT
The nationwide online advice platform for young people who are supported by their peers with online problems: juuuport.de