Assessing Instagram Addiction and Social Media Dependency among Young Adults in Karnataka

Abstract

This research paper investigates the extent and seriousness of Instagram addiction and social media dependency among young adults in Karnataka, India. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design and collected data from 511 participants aged 18 to 25 years. To assess social media addiction and Instagram addiction, the researchers employed the Social Media Dependency Scale (SMDS) and The Instagram Addiction Scale (TIAS) respectively. Data analysis involved frequency and percentage analysis, cross-tabulation, Independent sample t-test, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation analysis. The results revealed that a majority of participants demonstrated moderate to high levels of social media dependency and Instagram addiction. Furthermore, the study found variations in social media dependency and Instagram addiction based on factors such as gender, region, and locality of residence. It was also discovered that Instagram addiction showed a significant positive correlation with social media dependency. These findings emphasize the necessity for targeted interventions to address social media addiction and its impact on the mental health and overall well-being of young adults in Karnataka.