Addictive Screen Use In Early Teens Tied To Mental Distress; Experts Call For Healthy Habits From Childhood

The rapid rise of digital engagement among children is prompting renewed concern among health experts, with new research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine indicating that addictive patterns of screen use in early adolescence may have lasting mental health consequences.

The study has found that problematic use of mobile phones, social media, and video games among children aged 11–12 was associated with a higher risk of depression, behavioral disorders, sleep disturbance, and suicidal behaviors within a year.

The findings come at a time when India is grappling with similar anxieties. A recent tragedy in Ghaziabad, where three minor sisters allegedly died by suicide following conflict over gaming, has sharpened public debate on children’s digital exposure. The Economic Survey 2025–26 has also flagged the growing incidence of digital dependency among young users.

Surveys suggest that nearly 90% of Indian adolescents between 14 and 16 years have access to smartphones, many spending upwards of three hours daily online. Even children under five are estimated to average more than two hours of screen exposure each day—well above recommended limits.

Unlike earlier work that focused largely on total screen time, the new study examined addiction-like behaviors: inability to cut down use, irritability when not online, conflict at home or school, and a growing need for longer engagement to feel satisfied.

Jason M. Nagata, from the University of California, San Francisco, and lead investigator of the study, said problematic screen use resembles other forms of dependency. “It is when children try to reduce use but cannot, and it begins to interfere with sleep, mood, or functioning,” he noted.

Researchers tracked more than 8,000 participants from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study and found that problematic phone and social media use predicted higher scores for depressive symptoms, attention deficits, and conduct problems a year later. Video game addiction showed similar associations.

Importantly, experts caution that technology itself is not inherently harmful. The risk arises when usage patterns displace sleep, physical activity, face-to-face interaction, and structured routines—the building blocks of healthy development.

Public health specialists say the answer lies not only in regulation of platforms but in early, consistent cultivation of healthy habits at home and in community systems.

In this context, a new initiative by Sesame Workshop India, supported by Abbott India, seeks to intervene at the foundation years. The program, recently launched in Lucknow by the Uttar Pradesh Department of Women and Child Development, aims to help families establish routines around nutrition, exercise, emotional wellbeing, and sleep.

Using play-based tools, storybooks, calendars, flashcards, and games in Hindi, the resources are being disseminated through Anganwadi centers and frontline workers. The material encourages simple practices such as regular mealtimes, outdoor play, digital boundaries, and family conversations.

Leena Johri, Additional Chief Secretary, Women and Child Development, said nurturing physical and emotional health early can shape long-term outcomes. She emphasized the importance of safe environments, nature engagement, and structured daily rhythms, particularly in underserved areas.

Sonali Khan, Managing Director of Sesame Workshop India, said the effort is designed to integrate with existing government programs and reach both communities and digital audiences. More than 10,000 children and caregivers are expected to benefit directly, with wider outreach through online platforms.

Abbott India’s Poonam Sharma pointed to rising non-communicable diseases among younger populations, noting that preventive behavior must begin early in life.

Dr. Vikas Pant, Head of School, St. John’s Convent Senior Secondary School, Sant Nagar, Burari, Delhi, said structured daily practices can protect children from drifting into unhealthy digital dependence. When a child’s day is anchored in predictable routines, physical activity, creative play, and supportive engagement with adults, screens serve as an aid rather than a replacement.

“Technology should complement the learning process, not substitute it. We have already begun working in this direction by holding awareness activities to ensure impressionable minds do not fall into this toxic trap,” he said.

Dr. Pant emphasized that intellectual and human values must always take precedence over the lure of constant connectivity. The real task, he added, is not to eliminate technology but to embed it within a larger culture of wellbeing.