<p><i>Objective</i>:&#xa0;This study examined the connections between four distinct types of social support (to <i>solve</i>, to provide <i>solace</i>, to <i>dismiss</i>, and to <i>escape</i>) and <i>problematic internet use</i> (PIU). The study focused on examining perceived <i>psychological need satisfaction</i> (PNS) as a mediating factor and considered the moderating role of students’ academic stage.&#xa0;<i>Methods</i>:&#xa0;A survey was conducted with 266 college students in the United States (<i>M</i>_age = 19.54 years; 64% female) to assess their perceived social support, PNS, and PIU.&#xa0;<i>Results</i>:&#xa0;PNS was found to fully mediate the negative association between solace support and PIU, and partially mediate the positive association between escape support and PIU. The negative relationship between PNS and PIU in the pathway from solace support to PIU was evident among upperclassmen but not freshmen.&#xa0;<i>Conclusions</i>:&#xa0;These results suggest that types of social support and academic stage play significant roles in fulfilling college students’ psychological needs and shaping their engagement with PIU. The findings underscore the need to account for both the type of social support and the academic stage in developing approaches to effectively address PIU among college students.</p>