A survey by a research group in Japan shows that one in four junior and senior high school students are suspected of being addicted to the internet.

Professor Takeuchi Kazuo's lab at the University of Hyogo polled elementary, junior and senior high school students in 11 prefectures, including those in Tokyo and the Kinki region last year. More than 178,000 responded.

The team used a screening test created by a US psychologist who advocated the concept of internet addiction.

Respondents were given eight questions and asked to choose all options that apply to them. They include such sentences as "I often fail to stop using the internet even if I wanted to," and "I get irritated when I try to decrease the time spent on the internet." The team surveyed whether the respondents selected five statements or more.

The results show that 16.2 percent of elementary school students are suspected of being addicted to the internet.
The percentage was 24.1 for those in junior high school, and 26.9 for senior high schoolers.

In a similar survey conducted by a government research team seven years ago, the percentage of suspected internet addicts was 12.4 for respondents in junior high school and 16 for those in senior high school.

Professor Takeuchi said it is highly likely that children's internet addiction worsened when schools were closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Takeuchi pointed to the need for state and local governments to promptly implement measures, such as providing an internet addiction recovery program and improving education on how to use the internet.

He also said parents should talk with their children and establish house rules on the hours and places for using the internet.