why do teenagers find the internet a means of escape?

[Anna]

[DeathDealer]

Same reasons adults do.
It's easy, always open, and with seemingly unlimited possibilities.

[Wolfe]

The internet is a means of escape for everyone of all ages. There are several reasons:

1) It's global. People of all backgrounds can talk, interact, and play games with each other. Connecting people from different states and/or cultures allows greater socialization; you aren't limited to the folks in your town.

2) It's one of the last bastions of free speech. Some countries have a press and media that is heavily regulated or controlled, so people turn to the internet to express their thoughts to like-minded people (that's one of the reasons you find so many concentrated levels of crazy on certain sites).

3) There's so much to do. If you aren't into social networking, you can play MMOs, browse for images, read articles, share music, stream videos, etc.

4) For people who are shy or have social impairments like autism, the internet allows them to socialize without the pressure of talking to someone face-to-face.

That's just to name a few things.