This meta-analysis examines the relationship between childhood trauma and internet addiction in adolescents. A total of 19 studies involving 21,398 adolescents were included, revealing a strong positive association between childhood trauma and internet addiction (r = 0.395, 95% CI [0.345, 0.442]). The relationship was moderated by sample size, survey area, and internet addiction measurement tools. Significant differences were observed based on the various child trauma measurement tools and study quality scores. However, interstudy heterogeneity was not significantly affected by study year, sample source, or participant age. The study found that internet addiction is positively correlated with childhood trauma, emphasizing the importance of providing a supportive environment during childhood to enhance adolescents' physical and mental development. A warm family atmosphere helps individuals develop a healthy personality, reducing or preventing internet addiction. However, due to the limited number and low quality of the included studies, further high-quality research is needed to confirm these findings. The study also highlights the need for future research to use common criteria for identifying internet addiction and to explore longitudinal relationships between childhood trauma and internet addiction.This meta-analysis examines the relationship between childhood trauma and internet addiction in adolescents. A total of 19 studies involving 21,398 adolescents were included, revealing a strong positive association between childhood trauma and internet addiction (r = 0.395, 95% CI [0.345, 0.442]). The relationship was moderated by sample size, survey area, and internet addiction measurement tools. Significant differences were observed based on the various child trauma measurement tools and study quality scores. However, interstudy heterogeneity was not significantly affected by study year, sample source, or participant age. The study found that internet addiction is positively correlated with childhood trauma, emphasizing the importance of providing a supportive environment during childhood to enhance adolescents' physical and mental development. A warm family atmosphere helps individuals develop a healthy personality, reducing or preventing internet addiction. However, due to the limited number and low quality of the included studies, further high-quality research is needed to confirm these findings. The study also highlights the need for future research to use common criteria for identifying internet addiction and to explore longitudinal relationships between childhood trauma and internet addiction.