Author(s)
Fakir Mohammad Kasim Salim Shah , Khatib Faizan Atauddin, Shaikh Ammar Shaikh Vajid, Prof.Kalpesh Marathe
- Manuscript ID: 140305
- Volume: 2
- Issue: 6
- Pages: 280–300
Subject Area: Engineering
Abstract
Today, smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence are not just tools — they are a core part of how young people live, learn, socialise, and see themselves. For the 15–26 age group, being online is as natural as breathing. But this constant digital immersion comes at a cost that we are only beginning to understand: a quiet, creeping crisis in mental health.
This research paper — Digital Minds, Troubled Hearts — investigates how technology use affects the psychological well-being of young adults in India, with a focus on undergraduate students. Using a mixed-methods design (a structured survey of 11 students + extensive review of academic literature), the study examines six mental health dimensions: anxiety, sleep disruption, concentration difficulty, social comparison, loneliness, and AI-induced career anxiety.
The findings are striking and consistent. On a 1–5 scale, respondents scored 4.00 for concentration difficulty (High Risk), 3.82 for sleep disruption (Moderate-High), 3.55 for social comparison (Moderate-High), 3.36 each for anxiety and AI career fear (Moderate), and 3.00 for loneliness (Moderate). Over 54% reported they would feel panicked or highly stressed if they lost internet access for just one day. A full 36% said they desperately want to take breaks from social media — but find themselves unable to do so.
Crucially, the paper does not simply condemn technology. It recognises that digital platforms have democratised education, expanded career pathways, and even helped young people find mental health support. The challenge is not to eliminate technology — that would be neither possible nor desirable — but to use it with awareness, intention, and self-compassion.
Drawing on Social Comparison Theory (Festinger, 1954), Uses and Gratifications Theory, and the Attention Economy framework, this paper situates its findings in solid academic theory. It closes with a comprehensive, evidence-based set of recommendations for students, educational institutions, parents, and policymakers.