The bedroom lights are off. Most parents have already drifted into sleep.

But in the next room, although the lights are also out, two fingers—the thumb and the index—are still at work late into the night. Beneath the duvet, which doubles as a sound barrier, another world comes alive: bright, colorful, and immersive. A parallel reality.

In that world, hearts, short videos, and endless chats dominate—often starting at night and continuing until morning, when an alarm clock or a hand on the shoulder reminds the young protagonists of social media that it’s time for school.

A Growing Problem

The problem is real.

A significant number of teenagers are addicted to the internet—whether through TikTok and Instagram reels or through gaming, where users can spend hours in front of a screen, fighting virtual enemies.

“My child developed an addiction to the internet and gaming when he was a late teenager, around 17,” recalls Spyros, looking back on the early signs.

“He would lock himself in his room for hours and play. His schoolwork suffered, his performance dropped, and there was no communication at all.”

At the time, their only conversations were about food.

“In these cases, children don’t talk much. The only answer I would get was when I asked what he wanted to eat. Then he would go back to his room and continue playing.”

From Conflict to Understanding

After the COVID-19 pandemic, Spyros began searching more systematically for a solution.

“The problem lasted a long time and went through different phases,” he says. “I joined a program by the National Organization for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions (EOPAE), aimed at parents. There, I met people facing similar situations.”

His son did not participate, although many parents managed to involve their children in therapy or counseling.

“At first, most of us—including me—reacted with hostility. We would say, ‘Turn off the computer, stop playing or I’ll cut off your internet.’”

What Lies Behind Addiction

Behind every addiction, however, there is a cause.

“Through the program, we saw issues coming to the surface—parental separation, family problems, and more,” Spyros explains. “Threats don’t help. You need meaningful communication to understand why the child reached that point.”

Once he identified the root cause, Spyros began talking more openly with his son.

“I encouraged him. We found solutions together. His behavior—and to some extent his addiction—began to change.”

The process took about three years. Spyros remained in the support group for two.

“Today, he still plays online games—but much less.”

A Complex, Multi-Factor Issue

According to Stella Christidi, a psychiatrist and head of therapeutic detox and rehabilitation programs at EOPAE, addiction is a multi-factor phenomenon.

“If a child is vulnerable, combined with pre-existing disorders and a difficult family or school environment, the chances of developing internet addiction increase,” she explains.

A proposed law banning social media use for children under 15, she adds, would be “important—but not enough.”

“We also need programs that promote safe internet use. Let’s not forget: the digital world offers relief and pleasure—pornography, gaming, even gambling for profit. Anything pleasurable, anonymous, or liberating can also become addictive.”

The Digital World as Refuge

For many teenagers, the digital world becomes a refuge.

Giannis, searching for freedom and a life without obstacles, retreated into social media. Struggling to adapt to the real world and accept his sexuality, he began living through his online accounts.

He felt free—but also began using cannabis and eventually experienced a psychotic episode.

Dionysis, raised in a difficult family environment, avoided reality by immersing himself in gaming. He spent entire days online—and even made money through it.

When one of his teammates was unable to play after an accident, he was deeply upset. After all, this was his friend—someone he shared his digital life with.

It was also in that world that he met his girlfriend. They connected through social media and never met in person—he in Greece, she in another country, miles away. Yet they did everything together online: watched movies simultaneously, followed the same routines.

Safe Behind the Screen

“For me, being in my room and playing games meant I was safe—no one could hurt me,” thought Dimitris.

Because of his father’s job, he frequently changed schools. Each time, he faced bullying—mainly because of his skin color. Gaming became his protective shield.

There are also cases like Marina’s.

After growing up with strict parental bans on electronic devices, the moment she got a laptop, she became hooked—and gradually addicted.

“We often see very strict parents behind such cases,” says Christidi. “Children who don’t feel comfortable in the real world find relief online. Young people facing family difficulties, bullying, or learning challenges feel powerful behind a screen.”

“My Mind Is Consumed by the Screen”

And once again, the bedroom lights go out.

But in the next room, something still glows—the screens of phones and computers.

“I lose touch with my body. My mind is consumed by the screen,” a young person once told Christidi.

It is something she has never forgotten.