India’s rapid digital expansion is transforming education, employment, and connectivity—but it is also raising red flags over mental health and social development among young people, according to the Economic Survey 2025–26.
The report, tabled in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, identifies problematic digital use as a growing behavioural and public health concern, particularly among children, adolescents, and young adults.
It warns that excessive dependence on smartphones, social media platforms, gaming ecosystems, and streaming services is increasingly affecting learning ability, work efficiency, sleep quality, and social relationships.
The survey describes digital addiction as persistent and uncontrolled engagement with digital devices or online activities that results in psychological distress and reduced functional ability. Emerging evidence suggests that such behaviour is linked with declining attention spans, chronic sleep loss, anxiety symptoms, and reduced academic or workplace performance. It also notes a gradual erosion of social capital, with reduced offline interaction and weaker community engagement.
The concern is particularly pronounced among those aged 15–24, where social media dependency is strongly associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, low self-worth, and cyberbullying-related stress. Gaming-related behavioural disorders are also increasingly being linked to aggression, emotional withdrawal, and disturbed sleep patterns.
The findings come at a time when digital access has become nearly universal among Indian youth. According to a data, in 2024, almost half of internet users consumed online video content, while social media usage crossed 40%, reflecting how deeply digital platforms are embedded in everyday life.
Beyond individual health impacts, the Survey highlights broader socio-economic consequences. These include financial losses linked to impulsive online spending and gaming, along with long-term productivity risks associated with poor mental wellbeing and reduced employability.
Commenting on the Survey’s observations, Vivek Yadav, Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Andrews Ganj, Delhi, said, “Nowadays, learning through digital media is being increasingly emphasised not only by parents and schools but has also become an integral part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. However, the use of digital media for learning must be carefully incorporated under the guidance of teachers and parents.”
“No doubt digital platforms help students understand concepts better and provide easy access to learning material. However, cognitive development of the brain largely happens through traditional learning methods such as self-study, reading books, and regular writing practice. In other words, these leave a deeper and longer-lasting impact on young and impressionable minds.”
He added that the school is planning to conduct an internal survey on digital usage patterns among students.
Dr. RP Beniwal, senior consultant psychiatrist at the RML Hospital, Delhi, echoed similar concerns, stating that excessive digital engagement is now influencing both mental and physical health trajectories. “Digital overuse is affecting emotional wellbeing and is increasingly linked to early onset of lifestyle disorders because of reduced physical activity,” he noted.
Independent data also reflects the scale of the issue. Some surveys suggest that nearly 60% of children may already display behaviour patterns linked to potential digital dependency, including poor sleep, reduced physical activity, and declining academic performance.
The experts say the challenge is shifting from access to responsible use. “India has largely solved the digital access gap, but the next phase is about safe, balanced, and mindful usage. Without that, we risk a generation facing cognitive fatigue, attention disorders, and social isolation,” said Dr. Sunil Kumar, clinical psychologist and founder of Mind Zone.
To tackle the emerging crisis, the survey notes that the government has introduced multiple policy and support mechanisms. These include CBSE guidelines on safe internet use, the Ministry of Education’s PRAGYATA framework promoting balanced digital exposure, and child protection guidelines on screen time and online safety.
Mental health response systems are also expanding, as per the Economic Survey. The Tele-MANAS national tele-mental health helpline has handled millions of calls since its launch, while the SHUT (Service for Healthy Use of Technology) Clinic at NIMHANS offers specialised treatment for compulsive technology use, especially among adolescents and young adults.
The Survey has called for structural preventive measures, including cyber-safety education, peer mentoring models, parental training on digital boundaries, and mandatory physical activity in schools. It also recommends stronger regulatory accountability for digital platforms hosting addictive or harmful content.
Additionally, the report encourages families to adopt device-free hours, shared offline activities, and structured screen-time limits. It proposes the creation of offline youth engagement spaces and the introduction of digital wellness curricula in schools.
