Son’s stuck to computer

Dear Amy: I need your advice on how to deal with my son, whom I believe spends far too much time on the computer.

He is 20 years old, living with me, going to school, looking for a job in a very tough economy, volunteering one day a week.

He’s bright and kind. I like him as well as love him. But I can’t shake the feeling that spending eight or more hours a day chatting and gaming and reading online is way too much.

Giving advice or withholding the computer won’t work, I don’t think. What should I do about this?

Wondering Mom

Dear Mom: Your son lives some of his life online, and even though that’s not how you spend your time, there’s nothing “wrong” with it.

Your son is probably reading news, doing research for school, watching “The Daily Show,” checking sports scores, writing his papers, looking for work, gaming with far-flung competitors and Facebooking.

He sounds like a nice young man. Unless you feel he is withdrawn, depressed, obsessed with gaming or missing out on real-world connections, you should trust that he will learn to moderate his own activities.

Send questions to Amy Dickinson by e-mail to askamy@tribune.com.