Revealing the parental role in preventing childhood internet addiction and how to combat it

New Swinburne-led research  has found that the use of mobile devices by primary school-aged children for gaming, social media and streaming significantly increases the risk of internet addiction – and parents are the main influence.

The study surveyed Indonesian primary school children and found that over one in four (28 per cent) were at risk of internet addiction, with more than 63 per cent of children exceeding recommended screen time guidelines.

Though the results are for one country, they suggest similarly alarming global figures as technology increasingly impact children worldwide, explains Chief Investigator Swinburne’s Associate Professor Abdullah Al Mahmud.

“Traditional computer use, our study found that using mobile phones for gaming, social media, and watching entertainment videos was associated with a higher risk of internet addiction,” Associate Professor Al Mahmud says.

“Conversely, online activities like remote communication, learning, and doing schoolwork are significantly associated with a lower risk of internet addiction.”

The research, conducted as part of a PhD project by Yansen Theopilus, found that parents played a crucial role. Limiting recreational screen time, filtering inappropriate content, promoting internet use for positive purposes, and encouraging real-world activities were all found to have a positive impact when used consistently.

“Parental mediation was significantly associated with a lower risk of internet addiction. Restriction and supervision strategies show the most significant effects in reducing the risk.”

Associate Professor Al Mahmud recommends a screen time limit of under two hours a day, and for parents to play an active role in monitoring children's online activities, while also engaging in real-world family activities.

While the researchers recognised the challenges of demonstrating and upholding good behaviour in a world increasingly mediated by technology, they noted that the rewards made the effort worthwhile.

“When caregivers need to use their phones, it can be hard to be a positive role model and be consistent, particularly when their children’s peers may not have the same rules.”

“But it’s up to caregivers to show awareness in educating and role-modelling healthy internet use. Maintaining open communication with children about their online activities is essential,” he says.

Given the harmful impacts of internet addiction, Associate Professor Al Mahmud says we need national guidelines and frameworks for parents to provide informed parental mediation for their children’s internet use.

“Guidelines need to be established to help future generations, allowing families to focus on preventing internet addiction in children, which can have harrowing impacts for their whole life.”