According researches last few years it seem that around 6% of internet users meet the criteria for internet addiction and another 4% could be considered having problem with the internet that affects their schools grades or work performance. On a workshop on Internet addiction on 14.02.2008 in Continuing Education - University of Iceland for teachers, schools counselors, police and other professionals Bjorn Hardarson a clinical psychologist and director of responsible surfing that makes a tool for preventing and managing internet addiction - http://www.responsiblesurfing.com said the problem has been growing and will continue to grow. The internet is becoming more interactive with online communities, more ways of interacting and more multiplayer online games on the market. Even though most people will not deal with internet addiction and certain groups of people are in more danger of developing addiction to the internet, the social the internet is the factor that affects internet addiction the most. Not many people are losing control of surfing, not as many gamers are losing it with games that can be saved as with the massive multiplayer online games.
With growing internet use in the world, kids spending more time online and the internet turning more into an interactive community internet addiction and problematic internet use will emerge. On the workshop people who were working with kids on the age between 14-18 all agreed that last 2 years they had seen growing problem with computer use in the schools system that had negative effect of normal school work. They also agree boys are mostly playing the games and girls using IM software’s.
Responsible Surfing parental control software has many tools to prevent and manage internet addiction. It blocks multiplayer games, block chat programs, blocks unwanted materials, block ability to enter gambling sites and etc.
