Ramesh Sahu - Department of Academic Administration, Marwadi University, Rajkot, GJ, India
Diwakar Rajput - School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, MP, India
Naresh Jadeja - Marwadi University, Rajkot, GJ, India
Anuradha Shukla - Department of Hindi, Pandit S. N. Shukla University, Shahdol, MP, India
Rohini Dwivedi - Department of Botany, Central University of Punjab, Bhathinda, PB, India

Background: Unwarranted internet use can lead to a multiplicity of issues in personal, social, and professional spheres. This phenomenon is known as internet addiction. Between ۱۹۸۹ and ۲۰۲۰, the number of internet users increased from ۵۰۰۰۰۰ to ۴.۸۳ billion, suggesting a rising trend in the figure of persons who are digitally savvy. India had more than ۷۱۸ million subscribers as of June ۲۰۲۰, second only to China, according to TRAI. The ground of this study is to scrutinize the magnitude of addiction, its impact, and related factors in universities located in the districts of Chhattisgarh’s judicial capital, Bilaspur, and state capital, Raipur. Methods: The “Personal Information Form” was used to gather data, which also contained synopses of internet usage, Young’s “Internet Addiction Test (IAT),” and a questionnaire the researcher created called the “Impact Scale of Internet Addiction.” Results: Out of ۹۳۷ professionals from different socio-economic backgrounds, ۴۹۵ (۵۲.۸۲%) were male and ۴۴۲ (۴۷.۱۸%) were females. The subject’s mean age was ۲۱.۳۴ (SD ۲.۳۴). The study’s findings indicate that the mean IAT score for IA among users was ۶۷.۱۵. Out of the total, ۲۲۲ (۲۳.۶۹%) respondents were found to be severely addicted, ۵۸۷ (۶۲.۶۴%) to be possible addicts, and ۱۲۲ (۱۳.۰۲%) to be mildly addicted, respectively. Only six (۰.۶۴%) out of ۹۳۷ people were considered to be completely safe or addiction-free. Comparing males’ and females’ outcomes in terms of social media usage, academic performance, tendencies, and purpose has proven to be highly significant. Conclusion: Discuss the probability of addiction, protective factors, and preventive techniques based on these facts.

Internet addiction, Criminology, Criminal psychology, Antisocial behavior, Self-injurious behavior, Social media addiction