V3I5P23

Exploring Smartphone Usage and Addiction Levels among Indian Teenagers in 2026: Insights from a Simulated Dataset

Dr. Harish S Gujjar¹

Abstract

Since the introduction of the first iPhone in 2007, cell phone usage has become an accepted part of daily life, with smart phone addiction statistics highlighting this trend. By 2026, individuals are heavily reliant on their phones for tasks such as appointment reminders, real-time weather, traffic directions, virtual tickets, and personal connection through messaging platforms. This widespread integration makes it challenging to ascertain when high average screen time and cell phone usage escalate into addiction. This study, drawing on a simulated dataset of real-world survey data which consists of 3000 Indian students, aims to explore patterns and relationships between smartphone usage and addiction levels among teenagers. Utilizing techniques such as correlation analysis and K-Means clustering, the research investigates whether increased phone usage leads to higher addiction, identifies potential user groups with similar behaviors, and examines how lifestyle factors like sleep or gaming time influence addiction. Understanding these patterns is crucial, as excessive phone use in teenagers has been linked to sleep problems, reduced academic performance, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.

Keywords:

Smartphone usage addiction, K-Means clustering, Life style factors, correlation analysis.