The 'Internet-Dependent' Indian Youth

India’s internet economy is expected to double itself to reach $250 billion, according to a report by BCGTiE.

- Varsha Singh

While the total number of mobile internet users is expected to grow to almost 650 million by 2020, users with high-speed internet access is expected to be around 550 million. This can prove to be a huge boost for the internet economy. Data consumption is set to expand to around 7-10 GB per month per user by 2020 from the current 700 MB per month per user, says the report. “It is essential to understand the three forces that are now synergising to unlock internet consumption in India - 4G enabled devices, reliable high speed data and proliferation of digital content,” Nimisha Jain, a BCG partner and the report’s coauthor said.

With increased internet connectivity and enticing online activities, people are spending large portions of their time in pursuing online activities like learning and communicating. The internet is being used to entertain and is often enabling the users to create a world of their own.

People are increasingly being alienated and are seemingly more comfortable in their virtual world. Excessive internet use is turning to addiction. There is a thin line between healthy use of internet and problematic use of internet and the younger generation is getting more attracted to the latter. The addiction these days is mostly seen among the “internet-dependent” individuals who are attracted towards interactive platforms like chatting, games and shopping. The non-dependent internet users use the internet less compulsively.

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