Last Updated:

January 30th, 2026

Internet and social media addiction: Signs, symptoms and side-effects

The internet and social media were supposed to be fun ways for us to connect, learn, and play, but they have become subjects of serious concern. Young adults aged 18-24 now spend an average of 6 hours a day online. Internet and social media addiction harm mental health, sleep, relationships, work, and school, but the NHS has not yet officially recognised them as a medical condition. However, you can get help through private treatment, which can help you log off and begin recovery.

internet addiction world wide web

What is internet and social media addiction?

Internet and social media addiction means your screen use has spiralled out of control. It is when you keep checking your phone or computer despite knowing it is harming you. Rather than a substance use disorder, internet and social media addiction is a behavioural addiction. While there are clear differences, internet and social media addiction can be just as hard to overcome as drug or alcohol addiction, and can also be just as harmful.

How does social media and internet addiction develop?

Practically everyone uses the internet now, and most of us are on some kind of social media. While they can have a lot of benefits, the problem is that web developers and social media companies are now designing content and algorithms that are keeping us online well beyond what is healthy.

This begins with dopamine, sometimes labelled the “feel-good chemical”, which is released every time you see interesting content or someone likes your post. Your brain remembers that feeling and pushes you to get it again.

When you stay online more and more, the behaviour can start to become automatic. You begin grabbing your phone the second you wake up, scrolling nonstop, and waking up in the middle of the night to see if there are any updates.

When an internet and social addiction has developed, you no longer have any ability to control your use. When you get to this point, even cutting down on online activity can be incredibly hard without professional rehab.

Recognising social media and internet addiction signs

Internet and social media addiction can be hard to spot because technology is everywhere now. It is understandable if you are in addiction denial when everyone is using social media or the internet as much as you do. But here are some signs your use has crossed into addiction:

  • Spending much longer scrolling than you planned
  • Using your phone the moment you wake up and checking it as the last thing before sleep
  • Ignoring work, school, or family duties to spend time online
  • Staying awake far too late because you are scrolling
  • Being on your phone instead of talking to people who are actually with you
  • Constantly worrying that you are missing out on what others are doing online
  • Using the internet to avoid facing problems
  • Trying to cut down your screen time but failing every time

Why are the internet and social media addictive?

There are a number of reasons why people become addicted to social media and the internet:

Your brain’s reward system
As explained above, likes, comments, shares, and notifications all trigger dopamine in your brain. The chemical effect teaches your brain to want more and more, and soon, nothing except for online activity makes you feel good.
Designed to trap you
Online platforms use sophisticated algorithms and artificial intelligence to work out exactly what keeps you scrolling. The feed shows you posts that create strong feelings, and everything is built to keep you on the app or page as long as possible.
Fear of missing out
FOMO is one of the strongest forces driving internet and social addiction. Nobody wants to be left out of social groups, trends, or the latest news or fashion, so you feel like you have to be constantly online to stay connected.
Existing mental health struggles
Many people with this internet and social media addiction already have anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, ADHD, or feel lonely or isolated. Social media offers a quick escape from those painful feelings, but addiction only makes you feel worse about yourself.

internet addiction lonely woman

Internet and social media addiction dangers

Alcohol and drug addiction may get more news attention, but compulsive internet and social media use carry many serious dangers of their own:

Harm to mental health
Heavy social media use causes depression, anxiety, and feelings of worthlessness. Seeing negative news, comparing yourself negatively to others, and experiencing online bullying are all major problems. Some people even develop self-harming or suicidal thoughts because of things that happen online.
Physical problems
Too much screen time causes sore eyes, headaches, and neck and back pain from hunching over. Sitting all day scrolling leads to weight gain and being unfit, and staying up all night on the internet ruins your sleep. This then makes physical and mental health problems worse.
Broken relationships
Being glued to screens damages relationships with actual people in your life. You ignore your partner, parents, and mates to keep scrolling, and this can make them feel like they don’t matter. Children can grow up feeling invisible because their parents can’t put their phones down, and may even be dangerously neglected.
Wasted time and missed chances
Hours spent scrolling are hours you will never get back. This wasted time can affect your work, education, hobbies, and future prospects.

What does social media and internet addiction recovery involve?

Residential behavioural rehab gives you the best chance of recovery, particularly if your addiction is severe. Treatment starts with a digital detox, where you stop using social media and cut down on internet use. This brings anxiety and strong cravings, but you can slowly learn to handle these without reacting.

Different types of rehab therapy can then teach you what triggers your reliance on devices, challenge false beliefs about needing to stay connected, and build genuine friendships in real life. They can also help with other mental health problems that may be making the addiction worse.

After treatment, you need ongoing support to avoid falling back. This could include aftercare therapy sessions, local support groups, someone who checks your screen time, and practical tools like apps that block social media or enforce specific phone-free times. The best rehab centres offer relapse prevention planning before clients leave, so all of these post-rehab options can be discussed.

We know how hard it is to admit you need help, but we can guide you to the best treatment around the country. Contact us today to discuss what you need and where you can find it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is social media addiction officially recognised in the UK?
Social media addiction has not been officially recognised as a medical disorder by the NHS yet, and it is not in the main diagnostic manuals (DSM-5 or ICD-11). However, lots of research proves it causes genuine harm and uses the same brain pathways as other behavioural addictions. That is why private treatment centres across the UK now offer specialist help for internet and social media addiction.
How much social media use is too much?
There is no magic number because it depends on how you use it in your life. Research shows spending more than 3 hours daily on social media significantly raises mental health risks, especially for young people. But internet and social media addiction isn’t about time spent online, but whether you can’t stop even though it is causing you problems.
Can I ever use social media normally again after addiction?
This is different for everyone. Some people can go back to using social media in a controlled way after treatment, but only with firm boundaries like strict time limits, deleted apps, or only checking on a computer instead of a phone. However, many people discover that staying completely off the most addictive platforms is the only way to stay in recovery.

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