As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments have introduced steps such as spatial distancing and "staying at home" to curb its spread and impact. The fear resulting from the disease, the 'lockdown' situation, high levels of uncertainty regarding the future, and financial insecurity raise the level of stress, anxiety, and depression experienced by people all around the world. Psychoactive substances and other reinforcing behaviors (e.g., gambling, video gaming, watching pornography) are often used to reduce stress and anxiety and/or to alleviate depressed mood. The tendency to use such substances and engage in such behaviors in an excessive manner as putative coping strategies in crises like the COVID-19 pandemic is considerable. Moreover, the importance of information and communications technology (ICT) is even higher in the present crisis than usual. ICT has been crucial in keeping parts of the economy going, allowing large groups of people to work and study from home, enhancing social connectedness, providing greatly needed entertainment, etc. Although for the vast majority ICT use is adaptive and should not be pathologized, a subgroup of vulnerable individuals are at risk of developing problematic usage patterns. The present consensus guidance discusses these risks and makes some practical recommendations that may help diminish them.

中文翻译：

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在 COVID-19 大流行期间防止有问题的互联网使用：共识指南。

为了应对 COVID-19 大流行，许多政府采取了空间距离和“待在家里”等措施来遏制其传播和影响。疾病引起的恐惧、“封锁”情况、对未来的高度不确定性以及财务上的不安全感加剧了世界各地人们所经历的压力、焦虑和抑郁。精神活性物质和其他强化行为（例如，赌博、视频游戏、观看色情内容）通常用于减轻压力和焦虑和/或缓解抑郁情绪。在像 COVID-19 大流行这样的危机中，使用此类物质并以过度方式从事此类行为作为假定的应对策略的趋势相当大。而且，在当前的危机中，信息和通信技术 (ICT) 的重要性比平时更高。ICT 在保持部分经济运行、允许大量人群在家工作和学习、加强社会联系、提供急需的娱乐等方面发挥着至关重要的作用。尽管对绝大多数 ICT 的使用是适应性的，不应病态化，一部分易受伤害的人有可能形成有问题的使用模式。目前的共识指南讨论了这些风险，并提出了一些可能有助于减少这些风险的实用建议。虽然对绝大多数 ICT 使用而言是适应性的，不应被病态化，但一小部分弱势群体有可能发展出有问题的使用模式。目前的共识指南讨论了这些风险，并提出了一些可能有助于减少这些风险的实用建议。虽然对绝大多数 ICT 使用而言是适应性的，不应被病态化，但一小部分弱势群体有可能发展出有问题的使用模式。目前的共识指南讨论了这些风险，并提出了一些可能有助于减少这些风险的实用建议。