App-solutely unhealthy: Glued to screens, teens’ health at risk
Blue light, red alert: Owing to excessive phone use, behavioural & psychological disorders among youngsters assume alarming proportions
Amid the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments reportedly mulling a ban on social media access for children, a tragic incident in which three minors allegedly ended their lives following restrictions on mobile phone use has once again spotlighted the growing crisis of screen dependency among youngsters.
Mental health experts say the debate can no longer be delayed.
Psychiatrists and psychologists in the city as well as across the country have flagged serious concerns over children’s increasing exposure to digital platforms, warning that excessive screen time is triggering a range of behavioural and psychological disorders.
Ragini (name changed), a bright Class XII student from a middle-class family, developed a severe mental health disorder linked to excessive mobile phone use.
Today, mobile phones have been completely prohibited for her, as even minimal exposure acts as a trigger. Her condition began during the Covid-19 pandemic, when schools were shut and classes shifted online.
What initially started as extended screen time for academic purposes, gradually turned into prolonged and uncontrolled mobile usage. Over time, Ragini’s sleep-wake cycle became severely disturbed.
As her condition worsened, doctors diagnosed her with a bipolar disorder spectrum condition.
She also developed suicidal tendencies, and her academic performance declined drastically. Concerned by the sudden behavioural and emotional changes, her parents eventually sought medical intervention. “For over a year now, Ragini has been undergoing treatment. While her recovery is going on, her case highlights the growing mental health risks associated with excessive screen exposure among adolescents, particularly in the post-pandemic era when digital dependence surged dramatically,” said Dr JPS Bhatia, the psychiatrist treating her. “The problem has assumed alarming proportions. The number of minor patients reporting online addiction, anxiety disorders, depression, aggression, suicidal tendencies and severe social alienation has been steadily rising. The situation has become significantly worse in the past few years,” he said.
Dr Neera Bala, Head, Psychiatry Department, Government Medical College, pointed out that easy access to smartphones, online gaming, short-form video platforms and unregulated social media content has altered children’s behavioural patterns. Many adolescents are experiencing sleep disruption, declining academic performance, withdrawal from family interactions and heightened irritability when access to devices is restricted. “The recent incident involving three minors allegedly taking the extreme step after being denied mobile access has intensified concerns about emotional dependency on digital devices. Such reactions indicate deeper psychological vulnerability and poor coping mechanisms among children,” she pointed out.
Globally, governments have begun taking regulatory steps. In December last year, Australia moved to ban social media access for children under 16, becoming one of the first countries to take a firm legislative stance on the issue.
Several other nations are debating age-verification mechanisms and tighter digital safety norms. However, mental health professionals caution that a blanket ban, without adequate groundwork, may produce unintended consequences.
“While a structured protocol must be developed to counter this growing problem, any move to ban social media should be preceded by at least a six-month preparatory programme involving teachers, parents and counsellors. Without psychological preparedness and digital detox training, abrupt restrictions could trigger severe withdrawal reactions, behavioural outbursts and even self-harm tendencies,” warned Dr Bhatia.
Experts recommend a multi-pronged approach that includes digital literacy programmes in schools, parental awareness workshops, counselling support systems, structured recreational alternatives and regulated screen-time guidelines, rather than sudden prohibitions.
They stress that the issue is not merely about technology, but about emotional resilience, parental engagement and responsible digital culture.
As policymakers weigh their options, the growing toll on mental health among children has made one thing clear — screen dependency is no longer a lifestyle concern but an urgent public health issue, demanding coordinated action from families, schools and governments alike.
