Abstract

This article examines the adaptive and problematic patterns of Internet application use within a motivational framework. Internet applications can be conceptualized as digital environments where adolescents may fulfill their needs and navigate developmental tasks. Accordingly, problematic use of Internet applications, such as video games and pornography, may serve as a compensatory strategy to cope with psychosocial difficulties. However, the tendency to rely predominantly on Internet applications may hinder opportunities to meet one’s needs in offline environments, thereby exacerbating challenges in managing developmental tasks