Abstract: The rapid growth of social media has significantly transformed communication patterns, especially among youth, but it has also introduced serious digital risks related to privacy and data security. The present study examines privacy policy avoidance behaviour among degree college students and its implications for digital risks. The study is based on primary data collected from 200 students across four districts of Western Uttar Pradesh, namely Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Bijnor. Using a structured questionnaire and Likert-scale analysis, the study evaluates students’ awareness, attitudes, and practices related to privacy policies on social media platforms. The findings reveal that although a majority of students are aware of the existence of privacy policies, only a small proportion read them completely, indicating low levels of actual understanding. A significant tendency to avoid reading privacy policies was observed, largely due to their length and technical complexity. Statistical analysis, including percentage, Chi-square, and mean score analysis, supports the hypotheses of the study. The results further highlight that students are willing to adopt better privacy practices if policies are simplified and digital literacy is enhanced. The study concludes that improving privacy literacy and simplifying policy structures are essential to reduce digital risks and promote responsible social media usage among youth.

Keywords:Privacy Policy, Digital Risks, Social Media, Youth, Privacy Literacy.