Rising digital addiction prompts call for age-based online access

Warning that excessive use of digital devices was becoming a serious problem of addiction for both children and adults, the Economic Survey has called for age-based access to online platforms in India, digital wellness curriculum at schools, and a host of other measures to cut down on national screen time. It also flagged the need to develop a comprehensive set of indicators to assess the multidimensional effects of digital addiction interventions.

"Platforms should be made responsible for enforcing age verification and age-appropriate defaults, particularly for social media, gambling apps, auto-play features, and targeted advertising," the survey said. Mandatory daily physical activity in schools, offline youth hubs in urban and rural areas, and less dependence on online teaching tools that have proliferated since the Covid pandemic have also been suggested.

Describing digital addiction as "addictive behaviour linked to digital devices, including smartphones, the internet, gaming, and social media addiction, the survey said such behaviour caused "real economic and social costs," including lost study hours, lower productivity, poor sleep, and rising stress.


High screen time was linked to anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and reduced concentration, particularly among students. While encouraging schools to play a key role in shaping digital habits, it also suggested promoting simpler devices, such as basic phones or education-only tablets for children.

However, the problem is not just child-sized, the survey warned. "Digital addiction also affects adults. Awareness programmes in colleges and workplaces, technology-free zones, and 'buddy' or 'mentor' systems can promote healthier digital habits and build offline connections. Adults may be encouraged to adopt 'digital diets' involving voluntary device-free periods," it said. The survey called for parental workshops through schools and community centres to help guardians recognise signs of addiction and use parental control tools effectively.

National challenge

India had nearly 97 crore internet connections in 2024, and more than 85% of households owned at least one smartphone. The survey noted that nearly all people aged 15-29 were online and said that "access is no longer the binding constraint," with attention now needed on behavioural and mental health impacts.

Social media addiction has been highlighted as a major concern.

The survey said it was "strongly associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and cyberbullying stress," with studies showing high prevalence among those aged 15-24. Gaming addiction was also associated with evidence of sleep disruption, aggression, social withdrawal, and depression.

Online gambling and real money gaming were described as particularly harmful. The survey noted links to "financial stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation."

To address these risks, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which came into force on October 1, 2025, imposed a nationwide ban on all real-money online games, including both skill-based and chance-based platforms.