Internet Addiction Among Adolescents in Jakarta: A Challenging Situation for Mental Health Development

Kristiana Siste Kurniasanti；Tjhin Wiguna；Martina Wiwie；Noorhana Setiawati Winarsih

Internet addiction ； adolescent ； online gaming ； social media

Journal of International Dental and Medical Research

11卷2期（2018 / 07 / 01）

711 - 717

英文

The digital era has led to young people being exposed to the Internet at an early age, increasing the risk of problems related to emotional development. Consequently, Internet addiction can be found in 40% of adolescents in Asia. Because adolescence is a critical phase in a person's emotional development, this study explores the impact of Internet addiction on adolescents. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 19 adolescents who were purposely recruited through Internet café settings in Jakarta (n = 19). Fifteen males and four females participated in this study. The main topics were participants' characteristics, the extent and consequences of Internet use, and their knowledge about Internet addiction. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by the author using thematic analysis. The results showed distinct characteristics and the extent of Internet use between male and female adolescents. Considering today’s lifestyle, adolescents can be considered vulnerable to Internet addiction.