Coalition calls for greater research on issues surrounding internet addiction

“The toll on individuals and families of addictive use of the internet has been highlighted in recent days,” said Paul Fetcher MP, Federal Member for Bradfield and Chair of the Coalition Online Safety Working Group.

“The internet game Runnescape has been identified in media reports as creating addictive behaviour by some of its users.  One mother has told of her son playing the game on average 16 hours a day – and sometime up to 25 hours at a stretch.”“The Coalition’s Online Safety Working Group has found that a surprisingly large amount is unknown about the impact of ‘internet immersion’ on the health and well being of children.

“It is clear that for a minority of internet users, use of the internet – particularly internet games and social networking – can be highly addictive, and damaging to users and their families.

“Psychiatrists and psychologists to whom we spoke highlighted concerns about internet addiction. The issue of whether internet addiction is a mental illness is one that the medical community are debating. 

“The Working Group in its Discussion Paper on Enhancing Online Safety for Children has proposed further research be conducted into the addictive nature of technology.

“The Coalition proposes the creation of a Children’s e-Safety Commissioner, which amongst other tasks will commission ongoing research from reputable academic and other sources regarding online safety and addition issues.  It is likely that this could include the establishment of a major tracking study with a large, diversified sample and conducted over a substantial period of time.

“This is just one of a range of initiatives which the Working Group has proposed to promote online safety for Australian children,” Mr Fletcher said.

The Coalition’s Online Safety Working Group Discussion Paper is available at:  http://www.paulfletcher.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/item/831-discussion-paper-on-online-safety-for-children-an-important-milestone-says-fletcher.html