Last month, there was a spurt in Covid infections, igniting panic which led to some people recalling the horrors of five years ago. But, as far as pandemics go, they have turned out to be limited, with relatively few casualties and rapid recoveries. On the other hand, a real epidemic has gone largely unnoticed, even as it slowly but inexorably takes a horrific toll.
A quarter of a century since social media made its first appearance, it has scaled up enormously and has had a huge impact on businesses, political campaigns and society at large. But the devastating impact of social media on children—gradually recognised over the past several years—has now grown into monstrous proportions.
Social media addiction among children has been increasingly linked to the surge in various behavioural and emotional problems—from pornography consumption to cyberbullying, violence, suicides and an array of mental health conditions. Terms like anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, sleep disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have now become part of everyday conversation among young people in India.
Imaging: Deni Lal
Many of us likely know, or know of, children, teenagers and young adults in our families or social circles who are affected by one or more of these conditions. The widespread addiction to smartphones and increasing mental health issues are empirically observable. Now this is also backed up by extensive data.
A recent data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US shows that mental health issues in young people have grown sharply since the mid 2000s, in tandem with the rise of smartphones and social media platforms. Another decade-long study showed that as many as 40 per cent of students reported persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness—set against the backdrop of 95 per cent of 13- to 17-year-olds using social media, with 33 per cent doing so “almost constantly”.
The data from India is equally, if not more, alarming. This year’s Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) reckons that 76 per cent of Indian teens between 14 and 16 use social media. Other recent surveys estimate that 61 per cent of children and young people are addicted to social media.
India has also been ranked number one in the world for cyberbullying. Most shockingly, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has concluded that in 35 per cent of suicides among 18-29 year olds, the major reason is increased social media usage.
There are now movements in several countries demanding regulation of social media and smartphone usage among children. In the UK, where the hit Netflix series Adolescence—which explored social media addiction, cyberbullying and teen murder—was set, a WhatsApp group called ‘Smartphone Free Childhood’ was launched last year as part of a campaign.
That has now expanded to Australia, the UAE, Brazil, and the US, where the Parent Pact, a collective movement to delay social media access to children, has taken roots. Several schools are beginning to restrict smartphone usage among students.
In India, the Smartphone Free Childhood initiative, though in its nascent stage, is backed by strong parental support and has already started getting traction. The movement has progressed far enough in some countries to have led to legislation, such as Australia’s 2024 act that requires social media platforms to conduct age verification and delete the accounts of users under 16. Belgium, France, Germany, Norway and several US states have laws regulating minors’ access to social media.
In India, the Delhi High Court ruled that a complete ban on cellphones in schools was undesirable, thereby restraining the Directorate of Education’s order prohibiting their use. But the court has issued guidelines, including restricting smartphones in classrooms. The subject is gaining traction and there is undoubtedly much more to come.
Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda is National Vice President of the BJP and is an MP in the Lok Sabha.