Children today are growing up in a world where screens are everywhere. From homework and gaming to chatting with friends, much of their daily life happens online. While technology has opened doors to learning and creativity, experts are now raising an urgent question: how much is too much? The Economic Survey 2025-26, presented in Parliament ahead of the Union Budget, has placed digital addiction firmly on India’s policy radar. The report warns that compulsive use of smartphones, gaming platforms, and social media is beginning to affect mental health, academic performance, and even long-term productivity. Let’s understand it in detail!
Economic survey 2025-26 and digital addiction: what you must know –
Written under the guidance of Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran, the survey suggests that India should consider age-based limits for social media access and stronger safeguards to protect young users from harmful content and addictive platform features.
The message is clear: access to the internet is no longer the biggest challenge.
Instead, the focus must shift towards behavioural health, digital hygiene, and safer online environments for children. The survey defines digital addiction as persistent and excessive engagement with devices or online activities that leads to psychological distress and functional impairment. India’s rapid digitisation has intensified the issue. Internet connections surged from about 25.1 crore in 2014 to nearly 97 crore in 2024, placing millions of young users in an intensely digital environment.
The survey notes that with near-universal mobile use among people aged 15–29, the policy focus must now move beyond connectivity towards wellbeing impacts and content quality.
Why children are considered vulnerable?
- Younger users are more prone to compulsive behaviour and harmful online material.
- Social media addiction is strongly linked to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and cyberbullying stress.
- Gaming disorder can cause sleep disruption, aggression, social withdrawal, and depression, especially among adolescents.
Key recommendations from the economic survey 2025-26
1. Age-based access to social media
Policies may introduce minimum-age access rules, while platforms could be required to e-nforce age verification and age-appropriate defaults. The proposal aligns India with a growing global trend where countries are exploring stricter rules for youth social media use.
2. Reduce dependence on online classes
The survey states that reliance on digital teaching tools expanded during Covid-19 should now be reduced in favour of stronger offline engagement. Schools are encouraged to shape healthy digital habits rather than allowing unlimited screen exposure.
3. Introduce digital wellness education
Schools should launch a Digital Wellness Curriculum covering:
- screen-time literacy
- cyber safety
- mental health awareness
4. Train parents and families
The report recommends workshops through schools and community centres to help parents:
- set healthy boundaries
- recognise signs of addiction
- use parental control tools effectively
5. Promote safer devices for children
Suggested measures include:
- basic phones or education-only tablets
- enforced usage limits
- content filters to block violent or gambling-related material
6. Encourage offline life
Families are advised to create device-free hours and shared offline activities to balance digital exposure.
The Economic Survey describes digital addiction as a growing challenge impacting mental health and productivity across age groups. Compulsive screen use is also associated with wider economic costs, including reduced employability and lower lifetime earnings due to distraction and declining focus. Experts warn that access is no longer the barrier. Instead, children are growing up surrounded by high-stimulation platforms designed to keep users engaged for longer periods.
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