Published Paper Details:

The aim of the present qualitative research is to focus on the association between screen time for both academics and leisure purposes during the unprecedented Covid-19 situation and aggression of undergraduate college students of Kolkata. Students studying in the government-aided, under-graduation colleges of Kolkata are selected as sample of the study. Different academic groups of students and varied subject backgrounds were taken for the study. Telephonic interviews were conducted with 30 interested students (13 males and 17 females) who had given their consent for participation in this study. To collect data from the students regarding their different activities and pursuits during the lockdown phase, Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The semi-structured questions were validated by 5 experts and based on their suggestions necessary modifications were done. Results suggest that excessive screen usage disrupt the ability to register and process emotions. The most significant negative aftermath is impaired emotional judgement and desensitisation to violent content. Such prolonged engagement with digital gadgets led to an aggravation of sense of isolation and damaged interpersonal relationships as these youngsters went on losing valuable opportunity to learn key social skills. This virtual engagement not only reduced their possibility to build social bonds and relationships with other people but also decreased their sense of self-identity and confidence. In addition to these, prolonged screen time can impair brain development and even can lead to long-term medical ailments.