Public health challenges and initiatives in problematic internet use

Abstract

With the increase in Internet use across the world, there has also been an increase in the prevalence of problematic Internet use. There are various challenges in addressing the same – the addictive nature of Internet, lack of standard or uniform definition making its measurement or comparability across studies difficult, lack of national epidemiological studies that can help to direct resources based on the need, lack of awareness among the general public, challenges in restricting access of Internet to children and adolescents, and the commercial interests of gaming and gambling industries. The various initiatives to address problematic Internet use can be divided into supply reduction measures, demand reduction measures, and harm reduction measures, similar to that in the case of substance use disorders. Supply reduction measures focus on reduction in the availability or accessibility of Internet for children and adolescents. Harm reduction measures focus on regulating the age appropriateness of content of gaming or other Internet-related material provided to children, as well as restriction on the information that can be obtained from children. Demand reduction measures include promoting responsible use or healthy use of Internet as part of education for schoolchildren, and establishment of treatment centers for treatment of patients with problematic Internet use. India still has a long way to go in all these three arms of public health initiatives to curb the problem of Internet addiction.