What influences excessive internet use in teens and young adults?

Authors Borg and Howard studied what influences people to use the internet excessively (over 40 hours weekly). They reused survey data from the NACJD study, Radicalization on the Internet: Virtual Extremism in the United States, 2015-2017, which includes three cross-sectional waves of the Online Extremism Survey. Although its main purpose was to collect data related to online extremism and hate material, it also captured detailed information about the internet habits, relationships, and personal characteristics of online users between the ages of 15 and 36 living in the US. Borg and Howard analyzed a sample of 785 participants who responded to the third wave (2017) of the survey. Of those, 45 percent self-reported being online at least 42 hours per week. Borg and Howard created models based on aspects of the “containment theory,” which suggests people avoid problematic behaviors through internal factors like self-control and self-esteem, and external factors like family closeness and social participation. They found that influences on excessive internet use changed dramatically with age. Teenagers (15-18) were more affected by family relationships and peer behavior (surprisingly, closer family ties increased excessive use), while young adults (19-36) relied more on internal self-control and self-esteem to regulate their internet habits (although online hate behavior was more associated with excessive use in this age group). Religious community involvement reduced excessive use across all ages.

September 4, 2025