Internet addiction is changing the brain chemistry of young people which could escalate their addictive behavioural patterns, new research shows.

The study from PLOS Mental Health reviewed research of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine how different parts of the brain interact when a person suffers from an internet addiction.

Findings were concerning – those with a confirmed internet addiction had a decrease in the functional connectivity of regions of the brain involved in active thinking, which is necessary for executive control and responsible for decision making and memory.

Adverse effects were discovered in multiple neural networks across the brains of affected young people. During rest, there was increased brain activity in certain regions, most likely due to the addiction.

The study examined the fMRIs of 237 individuals with a clinically confirmed internet addiction, with participants ranging from 10 to 19 years of age.

The alterations seen in these individuals brain chemistry resulted in further addictive behaviours and tendencies. The study even suggested that these changes were connected to mental health and development challenges, and intellectual ability and physical coordination.

Max Chang, lead author of the study and an MSc student at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (GOS ICH), said: “Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage during which people go through significant changes in their biology, cognition and personalities.

“As a result, the brain is particularly vulnerable to internet addiction-related urges during this time, such as compulsive internet usage, cravings towards usage of the mouse or keyboard and consuming media.

“The findings from our study show that this can lead to potentially negative behavioural and developmental changes that could impact the lives of adolescents. For example, they may struggle to maintain relationships and social activities, lie about online activity and experience irregular eating and disrupted sleep.”

The research could even be used to see the signs of internet addiction early, allowing for early treatment and mitigation.

“Clinicians could potentially prescribe treatment to aim at certain brain regions or suggest psychotherapy or family therapy targeting key symptoms of internet addiction,” he said.

“Importantly, parental education on internet addiction is another possible avenue of prevention from a public health standpoint. Parents who are aware of the early signs and onset of internet addiction will more effectively handle screen time, impulsivity, and minimise the risk factors surrounding internet addiction.”

Irene Lee, who served as senior author of the research paper also based at GOS ICH, said: “There is no doubt that the internet has certain advantages. However, when it begins to affect our day-to-day lives, it is a problem.

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“We would advise that young people enforce sensible time limits for their daily internet usage and ensure that they are aware of the psychological and social implications of spending too much time online.”

Social media has long been a worry among parents and child safety advocates for its potential adverse affects on young people. The Online Safety Act was introduced to combat online harms largely caused by inappropriate content online, but social media has also been slammed for its addicted algorithms.

Just this year, New York City filed a lawsuit against TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Youtube, claiming that their algorithms were addictive and harmful to children.