Smartphones are shaping a troubled generation of children

"My daughter only eats if she’s watching YouTube." "My son throws tantrums when I take the phone away." "He’s quiet for hours—but only with a screen."

These aren’t rare situations. They’ve become everyday truths for many families in India. Parents whisper these concerns at school gates, post them online, or talk about them at night when the guilt sets in.

Across homes, a silent crisis is growing. Children, some as young as eight, are becoming addicted to mobile phones. The problem isn’t just that they use screens—it’s how early, how often, and how deeply it’s affecting them.

We’ve normalized screen use too quickly. We laugh when toddlers swipe through YouTube or gaming apps and call them “digital natives.” But few stop to ask: Are they emotionally ready for this level of screen exposure?

The reality is, parents are not the problem. They are tired, alone, and trying to do their best. Many are balancing jobs, lack of family support, and pressure to keep their kids happy and productive. Giving a phone becomes the easiest solution. And at first, it works. Until it doesn’t.

That’s when problems begin—tantrums, loss of focus, poor sleep, lower grades, and children who don’t want to play, talk, or explore anymore.

This isn’t just a family problem—it’s a social one

What’s shocking is how visible this problem is, and yet how little it’s being addressed. We see kids glued to screens in restaurants, waiting rooms, and even during family outings. But there’s no major conversation about it.

There are no government public service announcements (PSAs), no national health advisories, and barely any school guidelines. We still treat screen addiction as a personal parenting failure, rather than a widespread health concern.

But it is a public concern. The COVID-19 pandemic made things worse. Online classes turned into all-day screen time. Many kids never got off their devices after school shifted offline again.

Recent studies show screen time for kids aged 6 to 14 has nearly doubled in India since COVID. While some well-off parents can try screen breaks or “digital detox,” most families don’t have the time or tools to do so.

Telling parents to “just monitor screen time” doesn’t help. They need proper support. India must develop clear, age-based screen use guidelines—and make sure families actually know about them.

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Schools need to go beyond teaching coding and computers. They should include real digital wellness classes to help students understand how to use technology in a healthy way.

And in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities especially, kids need more real-life options—like community centers, creative clubs, or after-school sports. When children have better alternatives, they’re more likely to put down their phones naturally.

Children need connection, not just control

Still, the biggest shift must start at home. But it shouldn’t be about control or punishment—it should be about connection.

Kids don’t need to be watched more. They need their parents to be present with them—talking, playing, spending time together without screens in between. Families can create routines with phone-free time, like meals or bedtime, and make space for more real conversations.

Parents also need support—not blame. They are doing their best in a fast-moving world where screens are everywhere. Society, schools, and the government must step in to share the responsibility.

Because mobile addiction in children is no longer just a private issue. It’s cultural, social, and national. It affects mental health, learning, relationships, and more.

If we ignore it, we risk raising a generation that’s emotionally tied to devices designed to steal their attention.

So maybe the question isn’t just: how do we get kids off their phones?

Maybe the better question is: when will the rest of us—governments, schools, tech companies—finally take this seriously and log in to help?