The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) components and Internet Addiction (IA) symptoms among adolescents, with a specific focus on gender differences. We sought to identify which EI factors may serve as protective or risk factors for IA, potentially informing targeted psychological interventions.The article is based on a survey of teenagers (n = 86). The research employed descriptive statistics, quantitative data processing techniques, and psychodiagnostic techniques.According to the study's findings, it is possible to boost one's self-motivation by having a developmental impact on easier behavior control and identifying warning signals of Internet addiction.Our understanding of emotional intelligence and its correlates is strengthened by the research findings, which show how social and cultural changes, such as the rise of non-chemical addiction, have an impact on emotional intelligence. This implies that as society changes, so too does the way we understand and experience emotions. The study takes a close look at the details of self-motivation, behavior control, and emotional intelligence in the digital age.