Recently, there has been extensive discussion on social media and newspapers about Australia’s plan to introduce a ban on social media access for children under 16. This move caused a worldwide debate and encouraged countries, such as India, to reflect on the increasing role of online platforms on young minds. In a fast-digitizing world influenced by Gen Z and technological progress, this action raises a significant question: Is it a necessary measure to protect children by limiting their access to social media, or does it contradict the realities of the modern world? This question has become increasingly urgent for Indian policymakers.
India is experiencing a fast digitalisation. The affordability of smartphones and the widespread availability of the Internet have transformed communication, education, and entertainment in the country. While these developments have created enormous opportunities, they have also introduced serious challenges, especially to children. The age of digital exposure is very young. A mobile phone is often placed in a child’s hands instead of traditional toys, storybooks, or outdoor play materials. Slowly, screens are taking over imagination, human interaction, and playful exploration, causing a silent loss of childhood.
One common reality in most households is the omnipresence of smartphones in children’s lives. Most children are still glued to screens during meals, before going to sleep, and even in washrooms. Children are often pacified or engaged with electronic devices, which indirectly reduces parental interaction. While some children are actively involved in physical activities or indoor and outdoor games, most of them spend their leisure time scrolling, viewing videos, or playing online games. This disproportion has long-term consequences on physical health, social development, and emotional well-being.
One of the most visible impacts of excessive screen use is the decline in reading habits. Books, newspapers, and storytelling, once central to childhood in India, are slowly being pushed out. Extensive reading is being replaced by short videos and instant digital content, which affects vocabulary, imagination, and critical thinking. Alongside this decline, communication within families has been affected. Children have limited interaction with seniors, which limits emotional guidance and value-based learning. Social media updates have made many people more comfortable sharing their emotions with their parents or caregivers.
The health issues associated with the overuse of digital devices are gradually being uncovered. One of the most alarming health issues is the disruption of sleep patterns, especially in teenagers. The use of digital devices at night impacts the quality and duration of sleep, resulting in fatigue, mood swings, and stress.
Another major concern is the shrinking attention span. According to a study titled Accelerating Dynamics of Collective Attention, published in Nature, the average human attention span has declined from 2.5 minutes 20 years ago, to 45 seconds today. The brain is trained to demand immediate satisfaction, and children find it hard to concentrate on schoolwork, reading, or anything that needs patience and long-term effort due to constant exposure to rapidly changing digital stimuli.
Overuse of social media can also impact the development of necessary social skills. Socialisation is a process by which children learn to interpret facial expressions, body language, and emotions. Children are deprived of this experience as screen time replaces socialisation. This leads to a lack of social confidence in social interactions, poor communication skills, and a lack of emotional bonding. It also affects academic performance as the use of smartphones affects homework, studying, and concentrated learning.
Such concerns are further exacerbated by exposure to violent, aggressive, or inappropriate content. Video games and social media are exposing children to increasingly provocative content that can normalise aggression and unhealthy behaviour.
The World Health Organization is aware of these risks and suggests that children under the age of one year should not be exposed to any electronic screen, and that children aged one to five years should not spend more than one hour a day in front of a screen.
The effects of excessive use of social media on mental health are also alarming. Research indicates that children and adolescents who spend over three hours daily on social media are more likely to develop depression and anxiety.
In this regard, the move by Australia to limit access to social media by children under 16 can be regarded as a preventive policy intervention and not a punitive action. Policymakers in India should adopt a moderate and positive approach. Instead of imposing blanket bans, the focus should be on creating age-specific, clear digital rules that can help children grow healthily. Parental awareness, school-based digital literacy, sports and reading promotion, and platform accountability should collaborate.
The digital era is here to stay, yet the loss of childhood is not unavoidable. Through careful control, knowledgeable parenting, responsible technology, and robust community support, the well-being of children can be safeguarded without rejecting progress. It aimed to ensure that technology enhances children’s growth rather than substitutes childhood.
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