Global action on problematic usage of the internet: announcing a Lancet Psychiatry Commission

Naomi Fineberg; Zsolt Demetrovics; Marc Potenza; Gemma  Mestre-Bach; Hamed Ekhtiari; Andres Roman-Urrestarazu; Sophia Achab; Thomas Kattau; Henrietta Bowden-Jones; Shane A Thomas; Thomas F Babor; Beeban Kidron; Dan J. Stein

doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00323-7

Global action on problematic usage of the internet: announcing a Lancet Psychiatry Commission

Naomi Fineberg, Zsolt Demetrovics, Marc Potenza, Gemma Mestre-Bach, Hamed Ekhtiari, Andres Roman-Urrestarazu, Sophia Achab, Thomas Kattau, Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Shane A Thomas, Thomas F Babor, Beeban Kidron, Dan J. Stein

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Abstract

Digital technologies and societal problems are increasingly interconnected, and this nexus has important implications for mental health globally.1,2 Concerns exist about problematic usage of the internet (PUI), digital technology-related disorders, and their public health and societal costs.3 One 2020 meta-analysis found that around 7% of the world's population show signs of internet addiction, and prevalence estimates have shown an increase over time, especially among young people.4 Specific types of PUI, such as problematic smartphone use, might have an even higher prevalence.5 Increased awareness of the association between PUI and mental disorders in general and the potential negative effects of social media use in particular has led to calls for more action to protect individuals, particularly children and youth, from online harm.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	11-13
Number of pages	3
Journal	The Lancet Psychiatry
Volume	12
Issue number	1
Early online date	17 Oct 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00323-7
Publication status	Published - 30 Jan 2025

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Fineberg, N., Demetrovics, Z., Potenza, M., Mestre-Bach, G., Ekhtiari, H., Roman-Urrestarazu, A., Achab, S., Kattau, T., Bowden-Jones, H., Thomas, S. A., Babor, T. F., Kidron, B., & Stein, D. J. (2025). Global action on problematic usage of the internet: announcing a Lancet Psychiatry Commission. The Lancet Psychiatry, 12(1), 11-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00323-7

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title = "Global action on problematic usage of the internet: announcing a Lancet Psychiatry Commission",

abstract = "Digital technologies and societal problems are increasingly interconnected, and this nexus has important implications for mental health globally.1,2 Concerns exist about problematic usage of the internet (PUI), digital technology-related disorders, and their public health and societal costs.3 One 2020 meta-analysis found that around 7% of the world's population show signs of internet addiction, and prevalence estimates have shown an increase over time, especially among young people.4 Specific types of PUI, such as problematic smartphone use, might have an even higher prevalence.5 Increased awareness of the association between PUI and mental disorders in general and the potential negative effects of social media use in particular has led to calls for more action to protect individuals, particularly children and youth, from online harm.",

author = "Naomi Fineberg and Zsolt Demetrovics and Marc Potenza and Gemma Mestre-Bach and Hamed Ekhtiari and Andres Roman-Urrestarazu and Sophia Achab and Thomas Kattau and Henrietta Bowden-Jones and Thomas, {Shane A} and Babor, {Thomas F} and Beeban Kidron and Stein, {Dan J.}",

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Fineberg, N, Demetrovics, Z, Potenza, M, Mestre-Bach, G, Ekhtiari, H, Roman-Urrestarazu, A, Achab, S, Kattau, T, Bowden-Jones, H, Thomas, SA, Babor, TF, Kidron, B & Stein, DJ 2025, 'Global action on problematic usage of the internet: announcing a Lancet Psychiatry Commission', The Lancet Psychiatry, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 11-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00323-7

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T1 - Global action on problematic usage of the internet: announcing a Lancet Psychiatry Commission

AU - Fineberg, Naomi

AU - Demetrovics, Zsolt

AU - Potenza, Marc

AU - Mestre-Bach, Gemma

AU - Ekhtiari, Hamed

AU - Roman-Urrestarazu, Andres

AU - Achab, Sophia

AU - Kattau, Thomas

AU - Bowden-Jones, Henrietta

AU - Thomas, Shane A

AU - Babor, Thomas F

AU - Kidron, Beeban

AU - Stein, Dan J.

PY - 2025/1/30

Y1 - 2025/1/30

N2 - Digital technologies and societal problems are increasingly interconnected, and this nexus has important implications for mental health globally.1,2 Concerns exist about problematic usage of the internet (PUI), digital technology-related disorders, and their public health and societal costs.3 One 2020 meta-analysis found that around 7% of the world's population show signs of internet addiction, and prevalence estimates have shown an increase over time, especially among young people.4 Specific types of PUI, such as problematic smartphone use, might have an even higher prevalence.5 Increased awareness of the association between PUI and mental disorders in general and the potential negative effects of social media use in particular has led to calls for more action to protect individuals, particularly children and youth, from online harm.

AB - Digital technologies and societal problems are increasingly interconnected, and this nexus has important implications for mental health globally.1,2 Concerns exist about problematic usage of the internet (PUI), digital technology-related disorders, and their public health and societal costs.3 One 2020 meta-analysis found that around 7% of the world's population show signs of internet addiction, and prevalence estimates have shown an increase over time, especially among young people.4 Specific types of PUI, such as problematic smartphone use, might have an even higher prevalence.5 Increased awareness of the association between PUI and mental disorders in general and the potential negative effects of social media use in particular has led to calls for more action to protect individuals, particularly children and youth, from online harm.

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DO - 10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00323-7

M3 - Comment/debate

SN - 2215-0366

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SP - 11

EP - 13

JO - The Lancet Psychiatry

JF - The Lancet Psychiatry

IS - 1

ER -

Global action on problematic usage of the internet: announcing a Lancet Psychiatry Commission

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