Smartphone and Internet Addiction: A Gender Study Among College Youth in Hyderabad

The increasing immersion of digital technology in everyday life has led to growing concerns regarding behavioral addictions, particularly among college-going youth. This study explores the levels of Smartphone and Internet Addiction and these both are among college students in Hyderabad, Telangana, using standardized psychological tools. A purposive sample of 100 participants (50 males, 50 females) was assessed using Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS). Findings revealed significant gender differences, with male students exhibiting higher addiction scores across both scales. Additionally, a strong positive correlation was observed between Internet and Smartphone Addiction, suggesting co-occurring behavioral patterns. The study emphasizes the importance of gender-sensitive digital wellness strategies and psychological interventions, contributing to the Indian literature on emerging technological dependencies. Keywords: Internet addiction, smartphone dependency, college students, gender differences, behavioral addiction, Telangana, IAT, SAS, digital psychology.