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The “digital natives” They connect their networks all the time and generate links in virtual reality. It is an irony that the opposite is happening in their brains: neural networks are losing connections, causing problems in the natural development of young people.
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According to research developed by Max Chang and Irene Lee, from University College London, which investigated in 12 neuroimaging studies the effects of Internet addiction on the brains of children and adolescents, between 10 and 19 years old.
What they discovered is that their brains are indeed changing. There are changes in connectivity and signaling of neural networks. Although these findings come mainly from Asian countries, it is likely that this is happening in the brains of children and young people around the world.
The research showed that during activities involving “executive control network of the brain”, some neuronal regions presented interruptions, which were not observed in those who were not addicted to the Internet. However, scientists say this is only the beginning of deeper research and do not intend to describe internet use as “overwhelmingly positive or negative.”
The Generation Alpha, Those who were born in the 2010s are those who grew up in a completely digital environment, with the existence of social networks such as Facebook and Instagram. This considerably influenced his identity construction.
However, researchers acknowledge that it is still early to determine how this will affect their long-term cognitive development. What they have concluded is that the adolescent brain is more vulnerable than that of adults, which means that mental illnesses can arise at this stage.
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This study highlights the importance of continuing to research and better understand the effects of Internet addiction on the adolescent brain, in order to design effective interventions that mitigate its negative impacts.
