Smartphones undermining learning and connection

Since 2019, I have been teaching Sociology to law students in Pune, and over the past six years, I have witnessed a quiet yet profound change. Earlier, classrooms, corridors, and canteens would echo with chatter, laughter, and arguments over movies, politics, debates, discussions or cricket. Today, the sound has dimmed. Students sit together, but their eyes are not on each other. They are fixed on glowing screens, thumbs moving in endless motion.

- Dr Renu Naidu

No deep work while juggling reels

A few months ago, one of my brightest students made a confession that struck me. She said, “Ma’am, earlier I would revise for two hours straight. Now I sit with my books, but every few minutes I check my phone. I forget what I was studying, and it takes me forever to get back.” Her grades had slipped, and with that, her confidence. Sadly, her story is not unusual —it is what I see in classroom after classroom. This isn’t just an individual struggle; it’s a pattern. The brain simply cannot do deep work while juggling reels, texts, and endless notifications.

Increased anxiety to depression

The culture of “scrolling” took off with Facebook, later amplified by Instagram, YouTube, and now reels. At first, it seemed harmless—even exciting—to connect with people across the world. But soon, scrolling became an addiction.