Social Media Addiction and Engagement in Youth of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

This paper is a part of a larger study that examines the patterns of social media addiction and engagement among youth in Tamil Nadu using two standardized instruments: the Social Media Addiction Questionnaire (SMAQ) and the Social Media Engagement Scale (SMES). A total of 1,062 undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18–25 from urban, semi-urban, and rural areas participated in the study through a structured survey. The findings reveal a near-equal split between respondents who reported addictive tendencies (49.9%) and those who did not (50.1%), highlighting the prevalence of compulsive and emotionally-driven social media behavior. Key behavioral indicators included frequent use before sleep (62.5%), emotional dependence, disrupted tasks, and interpersonal conflicts caused by excessive social media use. The study emphasizes the importance of mindful digital engagement and calls for targeted interventions such as educational campaigns, behavioral strategies, and support programs to mitigate the adverse impacts of social media overuse while enhancing its positive potential in youth development.

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