Problematic Internet Use Amongst Adolescents: Internet Using Behaviour and Gender Differences

The advent of digital advancement and technology explosion has made the internet an intrinsic part of human lives. Since then, it is serving as an indispensable source of information. It caters to a wide spectrum of needs, from education to entertainment, making it a major contributor to daily activities. Adolescents and youth are major internet users; excessive and uncontrollable use adversely affects their academic and social skills. Increased screen time is believed to have serious repercussions on mental and physical health. The study aimed to investigate problematic internet use (PIU) and any gender variations in behavioural patterns regarding Internet usage among adolescents. In all, 610 Lucknow city residents between the age bracket of 12 and 19 years participated in a cross-sectional study. A self-reporting questionnaire of IAT (Internet addiction test- Dr Young) was utilised to investigate the level of PIU or Internet dependency in the sample of adolescents. The z-test analysis of means concluded that Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is more prevalent in females than males. According to the study, both males and females between the ages of 16-19 years have a greater possibility of getting addicted to the internet than adolescents between 12-15 years of age. Furthermore, the study findings revealed that 47.9% of adolescents had mild PIU, whereas 22% had moderate PIU scores, and 0.7% were found in the severe category of PIU and had internet addiction. Study indicates that adolescents are particularly susceptible to the possibility of rapidly spiraling into severe dependency levels as the majority have mild to moderate levels of internet dependency.