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Why in News?
- The Economic Survey 2025-26 has officially identified the rapid rise of Digital Addiction and screen-related mental health disorders as a critical healthcare challenge, particularly impacting the well-being of children and adolescents in India.
Digital Addiction: A Growing Epidemic
- The Survey highlights that Screen-Related Mental Health Problems have emerged as a major public health issue that demands immediate attention.
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this crisis as social isolation pushed individuals toward Digital Spaces for connection, deepening dependence on screens.
- Experts warn that excessive screen time is not merely a behavioral issue but actively aggravates Lifestyle Diseases due to increased sedentary behavior.
- There is a growing concern that unchecked digital consumption is contributing to a rise in Non-Infectious Diseases like obesity and diabetes among the younger population.
Proposed Educational and Social Interventions
- The Survey recommends the implementation of Mandatory Physical Activity in schools to ensure a healthy balance between digital consumption and physical health.
- It emphasizes the need for structured Cyber-Safety Education and peer-mentor programmes to guide adolescents on responsible internet usage.
- There is a strong call for Parental Training modules focused on effective screen-time management to help families establish healthy digital boundaries.
- The government suggests enforcing strictly Age-Appropriate Digital Access policies to protect minors from premature exposure to addictive platforms.
Network-Level Safeguards and Accountability
- A key technological proposal includes introducing Differentiated Data Plans that make educational data cheaper while regulating recreational data usage.
- The Survey suggests the Default Blocking of high-risk content categories at the network level to create a safer online environment for children.
- It stresses the need for Platform Accountability, holding tech companies responsible for harmful content that fuels addiction or mental distress.
- These safeguards aim to create a Preventive Framework that limits exposure to addictive algorithms before they cause long-term psychological harm.
Strengthening Mental Healthcare Infrastructure
- The Survey proposes expanding the national Tele-MANAS Programme beyond crisis counselling to actively treat and manage cases of digital addiction.
- It recommends the integration of mental health services with School and College Systems to ensure early detection of screen dependency issues.
- The training of Dedicated Counselors is advised to normalize help-seeking behavior among students struggling with digital compulsion.
- This approach aims to enable Early Intervention at scale, preventing minor behavioral issues from escalating into severe psychological disorders.
Impact on Demographics and Workforce
- The Survey warns that failing to address digital addiction could negatively impact India’s Demographic Dividend by creating a less productive and healthier workforce.
- Sustained investment in Digital Wellness is now considered as essential as nutrition and sanitation for the long-term economic health of the nation.
- Medical experts note that the Indian population’s genetic predisposition, or Thrifty Gene, combined with digital lethargy, heightens the risk of metabolic disorders.
- Protecting the youth from this “screen epidemic” is vital to ensure they remain a Productive Asset for the economy in the coming decades.
