Twice the limit: Study rings alarm bells over trend of excessive screen time in Indian kids; alerts of serious developmental risks

Children under the age of five in India are spending much more time in front of screens than experts advise—an average of 2.2 hours daily, which is double the recommended limit, reported TOI citing a new study published in the journal Cureus.

For children under two, the average is still concerning—1.2 hours a day, despite guidelines suggesting screen exposure at that age should be completely avoided.

The findings are based on a meta-analysis of 10 studies covering 2,857 children, conducted by researchers Ashish Khobragade and M Swathi Shenoy from AIIMS Raipur.


Experts warn that too much screen exposure at a young age can lead to slower language development, poor cognitive function, and weaker social skills. Other risks include obesity, poor sleep patterns, and difficulty concentrating.

Dr D K Gupta, a pediatrician and chairman of Felix Hospitals, told TOI that 60–70% of children under 5 are now regularly exceeding screen-time limits.

“This is leading to serious physical and behavioural problems,” he said. “Parents often use screens to distract kids while feeding them or calming them down—but this needs to change.”

He stressed that parents must lead by example. “If parents reduce their own screen time, children will follow,” he added.

Simple steps to cut back screen use

To reduce screen dependency, the study recommends a few practical steps:

• Create tech-free zones at home, such as bedrooms and dining areas
  
• Set clear and consistent screen-time limits
  
• Encourage offline activities like outdoor play and reading
  
• Actively engage in face-to-face interactions with children
  
  

In a rare move, the Chief Medical Officer of Ghaziabad recently issued an advisory to parents, warning them of the growing number of physical, mental, and behavioural health problems seen in children addicted to mobile screens.

The advisory urged parents to engage children in outdoor games, hobbies, and social interactions to help break screen addiction.

One doctor even reported seeing children as young as 10 to 12 years old showing signs of aggression and restlessness when their internet use was restricted by parents. "They become irritated, even aggressive. It’s alarming," the doctor told the news outlet.