A Study of Digital Addiction and Academic Procrastination among Secondary School Students

Abstract

In the present era, digital technology has become an essential part of students’ lives. Mobile phones, the internet, social media, online games, YouTube, and other digital platforms are widely used by students for learning, communication, and entertainment purposes. Although digital technology has made education more accessible and effective, its excessive use has led to the growing problem of digital addiction among students. As a result of digital addiction, students often experience difficulties in maintaining concentration on studies, managing time effectively, and completing academic tasks on schedule, which leads to the tendency known as academic procrastination.

The present research paper aims to study the status of digital addiction and academic procrastination among secondary school students. The study employed the Descriptive Survey Method. For the purpose of the research, a sample of 50 secondary school students was selected through the Convenience Sampling Method. For data collection, the researcher used a standardized research tool, namely the Academic Procrastination Scale (Constructed and Standardized by Kaur & Billing, 2023). The collected data were analysed and interpreted on the basis of Frequency and Percentage.

The findings of the study revealed that the majority of students use mobile phones or the internet for 3 to 5 hours daily. Approximately 68% of students showed a moderate to high level of digital addiction, and 72% of students reported that they postpone study-related tasks until the last moment. The study further indicated that excessive use of digital media influences students’ study habits, time management, and academic achievement