Screentime over playtime: the impact of gadgets on children’s mental health

It is a fascinating and complex reality that we live in an era where internet access can sometimes outpace reliable electricity in certain regions, and power shutdowns have become more endurable than the ‘Internet Server down’ message flashing across the screens of our hand-held devices.

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India has seen a significant surge in internet penetration, becoming the second-largest online market globally after China, with more than 886 million users in 2024, representing 55.3% of the population. This growth is driven by factors such as affordable smartphones and data plans, and the Digital India programme. Internet penetration in India grew from 13% to 5% while in the United States, it grew from 74% to 97% between 2014 to 2024.

Globally, a significant portion of children are online, with about one in three internet users being under 18. In India, children aged between five and 11 constitute roughly 15% of active internet users. While we read this, we also must be cognisant of the fact that India is one of the countries with the highest number of under-18s, poised to be the youngest country in the world by 2025. On average, eight to 12-year-olds spend 5.5 hours a day using screen media, excluding time spent online for educational and homework purposes. For teenagers aged 13 to 18 years, screen time rises to 8.5 hours per day. Screen time in adolescents rose by 52% on average during the pandemic.

The transition from parents urging children to “turn off the TV” to the current landscape where one is unable to turn off the internet even if one wanted to, highlights the rapid evolution of technology and its impact on family life. Books and paper have been replaced by tablets and smartphones, and even a temporary reduction in internet speed has become reason enough for nervous breakdowns and meltdowns in adults and children alike.