Digital Addiction in India: A Comprehensive Review of Smartphone, Internet and Social Media Use among Undergraduate Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2026.v11.n04.013Keywords:
Digital dependence, smartphone overuse, excessive internet use, social media compulsion, mental health, India, behavioural addictionAbstract
Digital overuse has emerged as a growing behavioural health issue worldwide, with India witnessing a particularly rapid escalation in problematic engagement with digital technologies. This review synthesizes existing literature on digital addiction, focusing on three prominent forms of excessive technology use among Indian youth: smartphone addiction, internet addiction and social media addiction. Across studies, high levels of digital engagement are consistently associated with psychological difficulties such as anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disruption and declining academic performance. The review further consolidates evidence on prevalence rates, psychosocial risk factors and intervention strategies identified in Indian research. Overall, the findings emphasize the urgent need for preventive initiatives, institutional support mechanisms and targeted counselling services to encourage healthier digital habits among adolescents and young adults in India.
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