Changing Patterns of Mobile Phone and Social Media Use in India: Before, During, and After COVID-19 Lockdowns

Vivek R Venkatesh; Afshan Rehman; Shazia Begum; Dhareppa Uppar

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i05.58202

Changing Patterns of Mobile Phone and Social Media Use in India: Before, During, and After COVID-19 Lockdowns

Author(s)	Mr. Vivek R Venkatesh, Ms. Afshan Rehman, Ms. Shazia Begum, Mr. Dhareppa Uppar
Country	India
Abstract	The COVID-19 pandemic triggered one of the most significant behavioral shifts in human–technology interaction, particularly in mobile and social media ecosystems. In India, where mobile devices are the principal interface for digital connectivity, nationwide lockdowns acted as a large-scale natural experiment in technology-mediated behavior. This study presents an empirical–conceptual analysis of mobile and social media usage patterns across three temporal phases—pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown—to understand the computational and behavioral dynamics of digital engagement. Drawing upon a mixed-method framework, the study integrates quantitative data from 1,500 Indian users with findings from over ten empirical studies conducted between 2020 and 2024. Behavioral analytics were performed using paired t-tests, correlation analysis, and demographic segmentation to identify significant variations in screen time, application usage, and psychological correlates. The study applies Uses and Gratifications (U&G), Media System Dependency (MSD), and Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) models as interpretive architectures to describe human–system dependency cycles under constrained social conditions. Results reveal an 85.7% increase in screen time during lockdown, stabilizing at a 51.4% sustained elevation post-lockdown—indicating a persistent post-lockdown digital equilibrium. Educational mobile usage rose by 200%, while 20% of users met high-risk criteria for smartphone addiction. Correlation analysis demonstrated significant associations between screen exposure and anxiety (r = 0.42) and nomophobia (r = 0.38). The findings highlight a structural transformation in India’s digital ecosystem, where mobile reliance has evolved from convenience-driven to necessity-based. The study contributes to the computational modeling of behavioral adaptation in technology use, with implications for digital well-being systems, adaptive HCI design, and AI-driven monitoring of usage patterns. Policy recommendations emphasize digital literacy, equitable access, and algorithmic interventions for sustainable technology engagement.
Keywords	Mobile phone usage; social media analytics; behavioral informatics; COVID-19; human–computer interaction; digital behavior modeling; India; screen time analysis; smartphone addiction; media dependency; computational social science; digital well-being.
Field	Computer Applications
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 5, September-October 2025
Published On	2025-10-17
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i05.58202

View / Download PDF File

E-ISSN 2582-2160

doi

CrossRef DOI is assigned to each research paper published in our journal.

IJFMR DOI prefix is
10.36948/ijfmr

Downloads

Research Paper Format Copyright Permission Form and Undertaking Form Cover Page Vol 8 Isu 2 Cover Page Vol 8 Isu 1 Cover Page Vol 7 Isu 6

All research papers published on this website are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and all rights belong to their respective authors/researchers.

CC-BY-SA

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Changing Patterns of Mobile Phone and Social Media Use in India: Before, During, and After COVID-19 Lockdowns

Share this