ABSTRACT
Adolescence is characterized by an increase in behavioral experimentation and participation in risky behavior, such as gambling and substance abuse. Problems with alcohol and other substances are most common during adulthood, but also occur in adolescence. Most children and adolescents occasionally participate in online games, and boys spend more time than girls on electronic games. A significant minority spends 5 hours or more a day on computer games and Internet use. The difficulty of defining and delimiting these types of problem is also the reason for the lack of an accepted formal diagnosis. Some adolescents show clear signs of Internet addiction, also known as dysfunctional, pathological or compulsive use of the Internet. Their thoughts are dominated by the Internet, which they use to escape negative thoughts, and they experience discomfort without online access, continuing their online activities even after having decided to stop for the day.
