A 2 week detox camp or Internet addiction center is offered in Korea for children and teens who appear to be addicted to using the Internet. It is not uncommon for “campers” to arrive after spending years online for an average of 8 or more hours per day. Parents, at a loss for what to do about the addiction, are turning to these bootcamps to help their children change their computer habits and to end their dependency on the Internet.

It begins with a group meeting and everyone turns in their cell phones. The counselors explain to the children that they are their to decrease the amount of time online. They point to problems caused by Internet overuse such as a lack of structure in their day, but they also ask the children about the physical problems they have had. In one session, one child reports having visited the hospital due to eye problems and many complain of back aches and arm pain from sitting so many hours in front of the screen.

Korea has become one of the first countries to treat Internet addiction as a psychiatric disorder. The government has hired mental health professionals to research the problem and develop plans for treating Internet addiction. One of the important findings the Korean researchers have discovered is that children who have problems in school are often turning to online gaming to relieve tension and to escape the problems they are facing in the real world. As they use the games more and more, the behavior begins to resemble the addictive behavior of a drug addict or alcoholic. Furthermore, as they increase their time online, they decrease their physical activity and physical contact with other people. This can have serious detrimental effects on physical and mental health, especially for children and teens.

At the Internet rescue camps, the children are re-introduced to physical activity and human interaction. From simple outdoor games to scavenger hunts and camping, the Internet addicted children are reminded of how to play and interact without the use of a computer.