New Media, Internet Addiction - Young People

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New Media, Internet Addiction - Young People
New Media, Internet Addiction - Young People

Video: New Media, Internet Addiction - Young People

Video: New Media, Internet Addiction - Young People
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Youngsters & New Media

Children and young people come into contact with digital, networked media such as computers, tablets and smartphones earlier and earlier. That's a good thing, because it's not always just about entertainment and pastime. School and leisure time benefit equally from the new media. They impart and train valuable skills in relation to communication and information gathering, which are also indispensable in later life…

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  • Continue reading
  • more on the subject
  • Advice, downloads & tools
  • The virtual gateway to the world
  • Communicate media literacy
  • Most popular activities on the internet
  • Still normal or already addicted?
  • Warning signs of problematic behavior
  • What can parents do?
  • Advice & help

Those who are not familiar with networking and filtering out serious information are sometimes at a disadvantage. In addition, many console, online and computer games promote characteristics such as the ability to react, eye-hand coordination, logical thinking, spatial vision, dexterity, teamwork and much more

The virtual gateway to the world

Just a few years ago, CD, DVD and video were a varied learning tool for conventional lessons. Today computers and the Internet are central elements and enrich everyday life in schools. When you get home, you can go straight to your computer or notebook. Whether with a text site, a video or MP3 - the "world wide web" offers a variety of possibilities to make learning more exciting, varied and motivating and to satisfy the thirst for knowledge immediately. For the homework and the material you have gone through, research is carried out on the Internet. What you don't know, the Internet reveals with just a few clicks.

After the work is done, there should of course be time for play, fun and relaxation. Computer, console, online games, chat rooms and social networks such as WhatsApp or Instagram or portals such as Youtube & Co. are just some of the favorite leisure activities of children and young people. The world is open to you with the Internet. However, some can get lost in it.

According to the Federal Center for Health Education in Germany, around 14 percent of 14 to 24-year-olds show problematic Internet behavior and around 2.5 percent of this age group have dependent Internet behavior. Similar figures can be assumed for Austria.

Communicate media literacy

However, with all the possibilities and advantages, the new media also entail a multitude of dangers. In addition to cyberbullying, data abuse or other criminal activities, users can develop excessive use and even become dependent, which severely restricts those affected and their environment. If activities on computers, game consoles, mobile phones and the like increasingly dominate in life, there are downsides. For example, when real life is falling behind and family, friends and school obligations are neglected. If you are no longer in control of your consumption, you are, so to speak, "addicted".

In order to counteract this, children and young people should be taught how to use such media responsibly and in a risk-conscious manner at an early stage, and media skills should be imparted. This also includes offering the children the greatest possible variety of alternative adventure spaces and opportunities for a sense of achievement - but without building up “leisure stress” and pressure. Parents, grandparents, teachers, but also (older) siblings and friends are challenged here.

What is media literacy?

Media competence means being able to use the multitude of media, new as well as old, and knowing their various possible uses. A media-competent user (recognizes) possible dangers and can deal with them. In addition, one takes a critical look at the contents and possibilities and is careful (definition of media competence according to "Medien-Jugend-Info", BKA).

Note Using computers and the Internet teaches children and young people valuable skills. However, excessive consumption carries the risk of addiction.

Most popular activities on the internet

The big hit among young people is communicating in social networks. The Youth Internet Monitor is carried out annually by the Institute for Youth Culture Research and examines the Internet behavior of young people (2017 11-17 year olds). In 2017, too, social networks are still on top, with the most popular sites of the past few years being more and more through other channels such as "WhatsApp" (1st place), "YouTube" (2nd place), the image network "Instagram" (3rd place) or the photo sharing app “Snapchat” (4th place). The Youth Internet Monitor 2017 lists “Facebook” only in 5th place in 2017. According to the study, “Facebook” is mostly only used as a “news” channel or for games and no longer as a social network. “Twitter” is also becoming less and less relevant among young people.

Differences between the sexes also became clear in the Youth Internet Monitor 2017: For example, “WhatsApp” and “YouTube” are more or less equally popular with girls and boys, while “Instagram” and “Snapchat” are more popular with girls than with boys. The video platform for computer gamers "Twitch" is much more frequently visited by male adolescents.

You can find more information under Youth Internet Monitor.

Still normal or already addicted?

The transition from normal computer and internet consumption to questionable behavior and dependence - common among computer and internet addiction - is fluid. Not everyone who has discovered a new website with euphoria and cannot get out of surfing or delves into a new game in particular is immediately addicted and a cause for concern. Rather, it is about observing behavior over the long term, keeping consumption within a certain framework and recognizing problems and warning signs in good time, addressing them and taking countermeasures. It also depends on “what” is being done online. The Internet is an important communication channel for real friendships, hours of online use does not mean being lonely.

Warning signs of problematic behavior

Some parents seek help in checklists and questionnaires on the Internet in order to identify warning signs of excessive computer use. The actual assessment of whether the behavior is problematic or even "pathological" can ultimately only be made by the expert. However, an initial orientation is definitely possible. If you answer in the affirmative to some of the statements below and recognize them in your child's computer and Internet use or in yourself, caution is advised, because the first questionable behavior may already be visible.

Perhaps the problems observed are in truth completely independent of the use of computers and “only” an expression of puberty - but do not hesitate to seek professional help from, for example, family counseling centers. It is always better to go home calmly than to overlook serious problems!

  • The child spends more and more time on the computer and / or on the Internet. It no longer has an overview of when it started, how long it has been playing / surfing, and cannot stop.
  • The computer or the Internet dominate your child's feelings, thoughts and behavior; they “live in another world”.
  • The child is often sad, stressed or aggressive and uses the computer or the Internet to reduce these negative feelings. It should be noted here that questionable media use can indicate problems, but does not necessarily have to be the cause of the problems.
  • Aggressiveness, frustration and impatience set in when there is no computer available or when you are disturbed while gaming / surfing.
  • Hobbies and activities in real life such as making music, reading, playing football etc. lose their importance and are less enjoyable.
  • You get the impression that virtual friendships are more important than those in real, real life. Meetings with other children are becoming increasingly rare.
  • You have already tried to limit computer games and Internet consumption, but failed because of resistance.

Source: According to the brochure Being online with measure and fun (BZgA)

What can parents do?

In order for your child to use computers sensibly, the following suggestions may be helpful:

Establish clear rules and deadlines

Make arrangements with your child on how they can use computers, the Internet and the like. The child should definitely be involved in this decision-making process, and the rules should relate to specific problems, such as "First finish the homework, then play." Frontal, strict guidelines or prohibitions tend to lead to incomprehension and resistance. The principle applies: As many rules as necessary, as few as possible!

Keep a media diary

It can be helpful to keep a media diary to keep track of your child's computer and Internet use, or possibly of your own behavior. Times and activities are entered there. The little book or list should always be on the computer.

Show interest and openness

Talk to your child about their favorite activities on the computer or on the Internet. Have websites, games etc. show you. Sometimes your offspring will teach you a lot! Interest and open-mindedness improve the relationship of trust and the basis for discussion.

Address concerns and concerns

If you have any concerns or concerns about the content of your child's favorite websites, forums, games, etc., you should speak up and discuss them. It is important that you justify your concerns, this is the only way your child can understand you.

Offer alternatives

It doesn't make sense if you just scold and pronounce prohibitions. Instead, it is more productive to offer alternatives. It also makes little sense if you are a bad role model yourself and, for example, watch TV evening after evening instead of reading or talking to others. Alternatives would be, for example, agreements on media-free family afternoons and evenings where, for example, a board game is played together, a theater or concert is attended.

Prefer age-appropriate, recommended games

Prefer age-appropriate, recommended games

In order to ensure that your children download, buy or receive recommended, age-appropriate games, you can get an overview of currently available games from the Federal Office for the Positive Rating of Computer and Console Games (BUPP, a service offered by the BMAFJ).

For more information, see Game Recommendations (BUPP).

Labels such as the PEGI age symbol also provide information on problematic content of a game such as drugs, discrimination, fear, sex, violence (PEGI, Pan-European Game Information). Further information is available at www.pegi.info.

Caring about community and friends

Many games can be played online or over networks in community mode. Not everyone has to do this from their own room. Encourage your child to invite friends over to their home. Nothing stands in the way of entertaining, shared computer games in the real world!

Don't avoid conflict

Under no circumstances should you look the other way or leave concerns unsaid to avoid arguments or conflicts. Discussions and (loud) arguments ultimately help the young people to orientate themselves, to form their own opinion and to develop personality.

Install filter and protection programs

Such programs offer protection and provide framework conditions. For example, positive lists can be created that can only be used for surfing on previously defined sites. Or certain pages are explicitly blocked, for example with questionable sexual or violent content. Some programs also offer time filters. However, the older the children, the less efficient these programs are - no system is perfect, and all software can be bypassed. If filter and protection programs are used, the media competence and personal responsibility of the child should be strengthened at the same time.

Advice & help

If you, as a parent, teacher or sister / brother, friend / friend, notice frequent signs of questionable computer use or if you notice changes in behavior, this should be addressed carefully. Numerous information portals, brochures and advice centers offer advice and professional help.

Even if you yourself have the feeling that your internet and computer consumption is eating you up and your thoughts only revolve around the internet, a computer game, etc., you can turn to various advice centers. The people there have to deal with such problems every day, you are not an isolated case and you do not have to be ashamed of it.

More information at family counseling centers.

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