© 2023 JETIR July 2023, Volume 10, Issue 7 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) JETIR2307215 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org c144 Unveiling the prevalence of mobile addiction among college students of Ankola Vijaya U. Patil* Dr. M. Komala** *Research Scholar, Human Development, DOS in Food Science and Nutrition, University of Mysore, Mysuru. ** Research Guide, Professor in Human Development, DOS in Food Science and Nutrition, University of Mysore, Mysuru. Abstract Mobile phones have undergone a remarkable transformation over the years, from being basic communication devices to powerful computing devices that offer a plethora of features and functionalities. Today, as the capability of the mobile phone becomes more and more sophisticated and multifunctional, adolescents and young users are becoming increasingly dependent or “addicted” to this technology not only for interpersonal communication through voice or text (such as Short messaging service -- SMS), but also as a tool for seeking information online, for entertainment, relaxation, passing time, picture and video taking, expression of status and identity, and other yet-to-be invented applications (Leung, 2007). Survey method was used to collect the data. Self-structured questionnaire and Mobilr Phone addiction by Velayudhan and Srividya were used to collect the information from 124 students studying in BSc in Private degree college Ankola. an average spent time on mobile is 5 hours in week days as well as holidays among all students, more time spent on social media & for entertainment purpose compared to study purpose. There is no difference in male & female students. The popular apps among college students are WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram, which reflects the current trend among the youth. Other commonly used social media apps include YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Share Chat, while Hot star, Sony, and YouTube are popular entertainment apps. Only a few students use Amazon, PUBG, Pinterest, and Google Pay. The study shows an increasing trend in the usage of WhatsApp and Instagram, where people often use different names and identities. This can lead to the rapid spread of fake information as people are in a hurry to forward or share messages without verifying their authenticity. This may result in misunderstandings and even breakups in relationships. The study found that among male students, 43% were low in addiction percentile, 51% were moderately addicted, and only 5.4% were highly addicted. Among female students, 41% were low in addiction percentile, 40% were moderately addicted, and 18% were highly addicted. Although the percentage of highly addicted students is low, there is no significant difference in low