The Internet and mobile technology are increasingly important to the educational and social lives of children, and are becoming a part of children’s identity. As one young person said to Childnet at one of its recent focus group meetings, “Take away my mobile phone and you take away a part of me!”

With the advent of broadband and mobile access to the Internet giving young people access to the Internet any place and at any time, and thus 24/7 entertainment, interaction and communication, there is a real risk that children can become so immersed in their online world that it can seem to take over their lives. It is easy to see why some children and young people love spending many hours pursuing their interests, playing games, finding information and communicating with friends (and strangers) online. However, when this use becomes obsessive and at the expense of other aspects of a young person’s life, this use of the Internet could be problematic and could even be classified as Internet addiction.
This guide produced by Childnet has drawn on other resources and serves as an introduction to the subject and will help you as parents or carers think about the issue of Internet addition, what the indicators of addiction are and tips for helping children. It will also highlight further resources and services that are available.