Digital Consumption Pattern and its Impact on Society: A Study on Semi-Urban Society of Odisha, India.

The covid-19 outbreak has changed the social lifestyle of the people significantly. The way people work, they way behave and communicate in the society has changed a lot. All have become more used to online activities and online transactions, during the pandemic spell. The digital dependence and consumption have grown significantly, during last two years, in each country. Many studies, on digital consumption pattern of users located at major cities, confirm this. But there are less studies or literature on the status of internet use in rural areas. Has there been similar growth, or it has much more diversity in the hinterlands, in smaller townships? Against this background, this paper aims to study the digital consumption pattern and socio-psychological impacts of internet users, during pandemic, in smaller cities, categorized as tier 3, 4, and 5 (or with population of less than 50,000). It studies the digital consumption pattern and diversity and socio-psychological impact, in the context of semiurban areas of Odisha, in India. People from the semi-urban areas, as the paper finds, have more or less similar purpose of use and pattern of use. However, they feel, as paper finds, that prevalence of adult content in internet disturbs social life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]