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@article{173851,
        author = {Dr. Jesus Milton Rousseau S. and Himanshi Bajpai and Om Chawla},
        title = {Negative Effects of Social Media in Rural India},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {11},
        number = {10},
        pages = {2029-2038},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=173851},
        abstract = {This research investigates the harmful effects of social media on rural communities in India, where approximately 65% of the population resides. Despite the widespread adoption of platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), which serve as vital bridges to the wider world for rural residents, this digital integration brings significant challenges that warrant careful examination. Using a mixed-methods approach incorporating structured questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews across four districts in Karnataka state (Kolar, Tumkur, Vijayapura, and Ramanagara), this study comprehensively examines how social media negatively impacts six key dimensions of rural life: face-to-face communication patterns, where traditional community gatherings are increasingly replaced by digital interactions; work-life balance, with constant connectivity blurring professional and personal boundaries; mental health and well-being, evidenced by increased anxiety and social inadequacy stemming from exposure to idealized urban lifestyles; erosion of traditional values and cultural practices through algorithm-driven global content; heightened privacy and security concerns in close-knit communities; and the spread of misinformation in regions with limited digital literacy and verification resources. While acknowledging the benefits these platforms provide, such as WhatsApp's transformation of information sharing, Instagram's influence on cultural expressions, Facebook's facilitation of community gatherings, and X's rapid information dissemination. this research highlights how the social fabric of rural communities is being fundamentally altered in ways that particularly affect vulnerable demographics of the society, thus addressing a critical gap in understanding social media's specific impact on rural Indian communities and providing empirically-grounded insights to inform targeted interventions and policy recommendations designed to protect traditional community values while facilitating adaptive responses to digital transformation.},
        keywords = {Facebook, Instagram, Social Media, WhatsApp, X},
        month = {March},
        }