EXPLORING HOW ONLINE ENGAGEMENT AFFECTS EMPATHY AND ALTRUISM IN YOUNG DEMOGRAPHICS IN INDIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/m318f586Keywords:
Online engagement, empathy, altruism, youth, online behaviour, virtual interactionAbstract
“In an increasingly digitalized society, the influence of online engagement on youth behaviour has become a subject of both academic and social concern. With the rise of social media, digital communities, and online activism, young individuals are frequently exposed to content that may shape their emotional and social development. The study explores how online engagement affects empathy and altruism among young demographics in India. It specifically aims to examine the nature and extent of digital participation across platforms, analyze how patterns of online behaviour contribute to empathy development, and assess the impact of online interaction on both virtual and real-world altruistic actions. Addressing the growing concern over the emotional disconnects and digital superficiality among youth, the study investigates whether the digital realm is nurturing or numbing compassionate behaviour. Adopting a descriptive and survey research design, the study utilized stratified random sampling and purposive sampling techniques to collect data from 385 respondents. Statistical analysis revealed that factors such as age, gender, marital status, residential background, educational qualifications, type of online activity, and socioeconomic status significantly influenced levels of empathy and altruism (p < 0.05). A strong positive correlation was found between online engagement and emotional responsiveness, real-life altruism, and cross-cultural understanding, suggesting that meaningful digital interactions can foster prosocial tendencies among the youth in India.”
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