EXPLORING THE HABIT OF INTERNET USE AND PERCEIVED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AMONG ADOLESCENTS FROM LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS IN UTTAR PRADESH

The use of the internet is a major developmental factor in the lives of adolescents. While the relevant correlations of internet use have been documented previously, there is a lack of information specifically regarding adolescents from lower socio-economic groups. This is particularly important because adolescents are more sensitive to the negative aspects of online experiences. The current study aims to explore the internet usage and parental involvement among adolescents from socio-economically disadvantaged areas in five urban school districts in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 250 students participated, with 90% being between the ages of 14-16. Virtually all socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents had access to the internet, and 88.5% reported spending more than two hours online daily, often on apps like Instagram and YouTube. A consistent finding across various countries was that girls are more likely to discuss their internet use with their parents and ensure that their parents are aware of what they are doing online. However, for boys, parents do not monitor whether they are using the internet appropriately or how much time they spend online. The results indicate that parents play a crucial role in showing interest in their adolescents' internet usage, with a particular need for attention towards boys. KEYWORDS: Internet use; adolescents; socioeconomic disadvantage; parents