Social Media, Internet Use & Abuse

Thrive Girls Ranch and Home understands that you want to find help for your struggling teen girl who spends all her time using and abusing social media and the internet. We’re here to help at our affordable, specialized boarding school program, set in a safe, positive and structured environment near Austin, Texas.

We enroll girls (ages 12-17 years) year-round, but we have a limited number of placements. Please call (512) 545-2226 now.

What’s Too Much?
During the past year of social isolation and school closings, parents may have noticed that their teens and young children spend more and more time on the internet via their phones or laptops. You may also have seen significant change in their behavior, causing you to wonder, ‘how much time should they spend online, and off-line?

Many current studies on internet use around the world indicate that after spending time doing academic studies or homework online, a child or teen should not take more than 2 hours on social media, gaming, texting, etc. And as an adolescent’s screen time grows and grows, parents must take action to help their son or daughter focus on other healthy activities, and avoid ‘internet addiction disorder’ or IAD.

Risks of Internet Overuse & Abuse

Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction in which a person becomes dependent on use of the Internet, or other online devices, as a maladaptive way of coping with life’s stresses. 1

“Loneliness is a risk factor associated with adolescents being drawn into compulsive internet use. The risk of compulsive use has grown in the coronavirus pandemic: loneliness has become increasingly prevalent among adolescents, who spend longer and longer periods of time online.” 2

Unfortunately, spending more and more time online, separated from interaction with their surrounding environment and family, adolescents can experience negative impact on their mental health.

“Obsessive use of the internet leads to IAD…negative implications such as sadness, feeling down, having a loss of interest in daily activities, distraction from normal exercises and other physical play as well as social interaction with friends. Adolescents who have high IAD, are more likely to suffer from emotional and mental stress, depression or social anxiety.” 3

“Internet addiction is particularly concerning for kids and teens. Children lack the knowledge and awareness to properly manage their own computer use and have no idea about the potential harms that the Internet can open them up to.” 4

If your adolescent son or daughter spends excessive time on the internet, take a moment to consider the following signs of addictive behavior: 4

Loses track of time while online

Sacrifices needed hours of sleep to spend time online
Becomes agitated or angry when online time is interrupted
Checks email or online messages several times a day
Becomes irritable if not allowed access to the internet
Spends time online in place of homework or chores
Prefers to spend time online rather than with friends or family
Disobeys time limits that have been set for internet usage
Lies about amount of time spent online or “sneaks” online when no one is around
Forms new relationships with people he or she has met online
Seems preoccupied with getting back online when away from the computer
Loses interest in activities that were enjoyable before he or she had online access
Becomes irritable, moody or depressed when not online

What Parents Can Do

Internet addiction treatment can begin at home, as parents set reasonable rules and boundaries on their son or daughter’s use of phones and computers.

“Work with your child to establish clear boundaries for limited internet usage. Create a rule that non-homework-related computer usage should only happen in more public areas of the home, where your child is more likely to interact with you or other members of the household.” 4

And it’s important to show your adolescent that you care about him or her, and you’re not trying to punish them. You want to help them feel better, and improve their social and coping skills. Help them understand the importance of ‘face-to-face’ communication, instead of trying to escape unhappy feelings, or avoiding others.

When your adolescent will not cooperate, and continues to pursue unlimited use of phones or computers, please consider finding help through a professional counselor or therapist that works with families. It’s important to address your child’s problem with extensive internet use, before it becomes a harmful addiction that can derail his or her success in the future. You can also explore placing your adolescent in a therapeutic boarding school that actively treats emotional and mental health issues related to internet or online gaming addictions.

We Help Girls Heal and Thrive!

Thrive Girls Ranch and Home wants to help your girl–and your family–find healthy restoration and healing from the negative effects of her online activities.

Our affordable, year-round Christian boarding school helps girls transform into responsible, respectful and gracious young women. The therapeutic residential program in Central Texas features TC Biblical advisors and mentors, a focus on academics, and a milieu of therapeutic activities, including equine therapy. Girls also benefit from vocational training, and it is all designed to help girls transition into a life where they thrive!

Call now to learn more: (512) 545-2226.

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