*3.4. European Policy Options to Prevent Internet Addiction Problems*

From the present European literature review encompassing the period between 2013 and 2018, the following four policy options have been developed based on the included 19 studies (see Figure 2).

**Figure 2.** Policy options derived from the present literature review.

#### 3.4.1. No Action

The first policy option concerns all stakeholders involved and should be considered with caution. In a few studies, contradictory findings have emerged which have highlighted it is not worth taking action if treatment is not sought [33] or if the problem does not emerge [30]. Thus, the first policy option is related to the following preventive actions:


This option refers to natural recovery, which seems to exist but has not been studied much. However, due to the precautionary principle (i.e., which encourages policies that protect human health and the environment in the face of uncertain risks) it may jeopardize Europe's ability to prevent Internet use-related problems from emerging in the first place, and to take advantage of the instruments,

therapeutic, and of preventive opportunities that the scientific literature on generalized and specific Internet addiction problems has recently provided.
