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Abstract

Internet addiction among children has become one of the leading health problems for the younger generation and society as a whole in the context of rapid digitalization and global access to online technologies. The purpose of this article is to analyze the phenomenon of Internet addiction in children from a medical and criminological perspective, integrating medical, psychological, and legal approaches. The study is based on the analysis of current empirical data (2019–2026), scientific works by Ukrainian and foreign scientists on children's behavior on the internet, as well as a comparative analysis of international monitoring programs and clinical studies highlighting the medical, psychological, and social consequences of excessive use of digital technologies by children. Particular attention is paid to modern digital‑age syndromes such as Facebook depression, cyberchondria, phantom vibration syndrome, and Google amnesia, which increasingly accompany problematic internet use among minors. The article substantiates that uncontrolled digital behavior may act as a risk factor for mental disorders, social maladaptation, deviant behavior, and victimization of children in cyberspace. The results of our study emphasize the need to introduce interdisciplinary measures to prevent Internet addiction, involving parents, educators, medical professionals, and law enforcement agencies.

Keywords: Internet addiction, Children, Mental health, Digital environment

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