3 Tips to Help Someone With an Internet Addiction

Key takeaways:

An internet addiction is when someone has such a strong need to be online that they ignore other parts of life.
When a loved one spends a lot of time on the internet, it can strain your relationship. Like other addictions, it can increase your worry and stress.
To help someone with an internet addiction, be kind, patient, and supportive. Encourage them to seek professional treatment and guidance.

An internet addiction may not be an official mental health diagnosis, but many people experience problems arising from too much internet use. As many as 8% of people in the U.S. have problematic internet behaviors.

Anyone can have an internet addiction, including the people you care about most. Keep reading to learn more about the best ways to support a loved one with an internet addiction.

How do I address internet addiction with my loved one?

Deciding how to address internet addiction with a loved one can be an uncertain process. You may want to avoid the situation completely, or you may have no idea how to bring up the issue.

The best way to support your loved one involves being patient, empathetic, and encouraging.

These three tips may help you support a loved one dealing with an internet addiction:

1. Learn about internet addiction and mental health warning signs

People with addictions and other mental health conditions tend to show signs that something is wrong. They might experience drastic mood swings, changes in their habits, or shifts in their relationships. Pay attention to these changes, and track what you see.

If you notice differences in their mood or behavior, consider whether you might be seeing the signs and symptoms of internet addiction.

Someone with a problem will:

Spend a significant amount of time online each day
Seem angry, upset, or irritable if they cannot be online
Use the internet to ignore or cope with feelings
Argue with loved ones about internet use
Turn down activities where they won’t have internet access
Miss work or school and neglect responsibilities at home because they are online

2. Practice your communication

Even the best communicators may find it tricky to talk to a loved one about addiction issues. These types of conversations tend to stir up strong emotions, which can make clear communication a challenge.

Plan your communication strategy before starting a conversation:

Find the best time. Before starting the conversation, be sure to check with your loved one if it is a good time to talk. If finding the right time is a struggle, ask to schedule a time for a conversation. Let them know it will be a serious talk about your concerns.
Remove distractions. Other people, noises, and electronics could distract you both from the conversation. Find a way to separate yourselves from potential disruptions.
Have a plan. This conversation is not something you want to make up as you go. Take some time to develop a goal for the conversation. Do you just want to share concerns? Or are you asking your loved one to seek professional help? Think about what you want and how you can communicate it.

During the conversation:

If your loved one’s addiction makes you worried, tell them.
Stay focused on the situation and what your loved one is saying.
Work hard to understand their point of view.
Ask questions to show you care.
Keep your emotions under control.
Stay upbeat, positive, and encouraging.
Offer to help tackle the problem with teamwork.

After the conversation:

Regularly check in with your loved one.
Ask about their progress.
Offer your help or services.
Let them know you are proud of their efforts.

3. Take care of yourself

You may continue experiencing some worry, confusion, or frustration toward your loved one. These feelings can affect your well-being and lead to additional stress.

Consider seeking out support for yourself. Professional counseling or support groups can provide the needed assistance. Some support group options include:

How can I support someone managing internet addiction?

Being supportive of someone who is addicted to the internet or in the early days of recovery takes collaboration. With cooperation, you and your loved one can identify and overcome challenges.

To get to treatment, your loved one may experience obstacles like issues with transportation, childcare, or work. Brainstorm solutions to help your loved one in the short and long term.

Along with being supportive, you also need to have strong boundaries. When a loved one has an addiction, it can be easy to accidentally encourage unwanted behavior. You should focus on encouraging recovery.

When helping your loved one, DON’T:

Make excuses for them
Lie for them
Justify their addictive behaviors
Do their work for them

These behaviors may improve the situation in the short term, but they only create problems in the long term.

How is internet addiction treated?

In the long term, the best route to recovery for someone with an internet addiction is professional treatment. The goal of treatment is often to find ways to help the person use the internet in a more balanced way and return their internet use to acceptable levels. Professional treatment may include medication, therapy or a combination of both.

Internet addiction is not currently an official disorder, and more research is needed to find the best medications and therapy options for treatment. Currently, there are no medications specifically approved for internet addiction.

Some counseling approaches used to treat internet addiction include:

Your loved one may benefit from peer support groups as well. These groups are a great addition to professional treatments. Some helpful options are:

As with other addiction treatments, it is crucial to commit to the process for enough time. You cannot expect your loved one to be “cured” after just a few appointments. It takes time to uncover the root of a person’s addiction and to develop healthier coping skills to regulate their internet use.

The bottom line

Internet addiction — spending so much time on the internet that it interrupts your daily life — is not an officially recognized mental health condition yet. But it impacts many people and their families. To help an addicted loved one, you should offer support, encouragement, and consistency. It is also important to care of your needs and practice patience, since recovery takes time.

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Written by:

Eric Patterson, LPC

Eric Patterson, LPC, has been a professional counselor in school and outpatient settings for over 15 years. Patterson has been cited as a mental health expert in publications such as Today.com, Good Housekeeping, and InStyle.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Mona Bapat, PhD, HSPP

Mona Bapat, PhD, HSPP, has 15 years of clinical experience providing therapy. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Indiana and Illinois with treatment experience in individual, couples, family, and group therapy modalities.

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