In today’s digital era, smartphones and social media have become integral to the everyday lives of children and young people. Excessive consumption of digital media not only impacts concentration and behaviour at school but also leads to serious psychological problems. Experts are calling for digital addiction to be taken as seriously as alcohol or drug addiction, and ideally, treated with professional help.
It is increasingly rare to see young people without a smartphone in their hands. Many spend the majority of their day watching videos or playing computer games. At school, they often show signs of attention deficit disorders and suffer from loneliness, anxiety, or even self-harm. Many adolescent patients also struggle with other mental health issues.
‘Since 2020, the number of children and adolescents in the Czech Republic treated for anxiety disorders has risen by a third. At the same time, treatment costs have more than doubled,’ says Jana Schillerová, spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Interior’s Health Insurance Fund (ZP MV ČR).
Costs of Treatment for Anxiety Disorders (source: ZP MV ČR)
Year | Number of Patients (0-18 years) | Treatment Costs
2020 | 1,020 | 4,727,430 CZK
2024 | 1,384 | 10,418,096 CZK
According to addiction specialist Tomáš Jandáč, children are increasingly unwilling to face the challenges of everyday life, choosing instead to retreat into the digital world. In the outpatient clinic for paediatric and adolescent addiction at the General University Hospital in Prague, half of 12 to 18-year-olds are now being treated for their addiction to digital media.
‘The digital space is designed to reward users for their presence, which serves as a huge motivator for children. Addiction to the digital world can lead to risk behaviours and mental illnesses such as eating disorders or self-harm. It is alarming how much time Generation Z spends in the digital world,’ says Tomáš Jandáč, addiction specialist at the Paediatric and Adolescent Clinic for Addictive Disorders at the First Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague.
According to a study conducted by the National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in 2022, nearly 75% of high school students spend their free time on social networks every day. Almost half of the boys aged 11 to 15 surveyed play games on their computers, mobile phones, or tablets daily.
Up to 18% of students reported spending time online even when not having fun, and almost 50% of respondents felt uncomfortable when unable to access the internet.
Gaming addiction should be treated just as seriously as alcohol or drug addiction and is best addressed with professional help. The main symptoms of addiction include a loss of temporal control, avoidance of everyday activities, withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness, insomnia, anxiety, frustration, and a lack of mental balance. Experts suggest that parents should monitor their children’s digital presence and set clear boundaries.