By Jairaj Chhetry
“We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us.” — Marshall McLuhan, Media Theorist
“Our attention is the most valuable thing we possess, yet we are surrendering it to platforms designed to exploit it.” — Cal Newport, Author of Digital Minimalism
Once, a crying child was pacified with lullabies, toys, or gentle rocking in arms. Today, that child is more likely to be handed a mobile phone. Just a few taps on a screen and a fussy infant is hypnotised into silence by dancing cartoons or catchy jingles. The Smartphone has silently replaced the rattle as a modern pacifier—and the consequences are now unfolding in classrooms, homes, and counselling rooms across India.
Digital screens—once hailed as the ultimate tools of empowerment—are increasingly seen as double-edged swords. From waking up to the soft glow of notifications to falling asleep after watching reels deep into the night, students now live in an uninterrupted continuum of digital interaction. This immersive “screening culture” is not just changing how students learn, but also how they think, feel, behave—and in some cases, how they misbehave.
Smart phones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs have become integrated into daily life—especially for students. According to a 2024 NCERT survey, Indian teenagers now spend an average of 6 to 8 hours daily on digital screens. Shockingly, only 20% of that time is used for academic work. The rest is consumed by YouTube, reels, gaming, scrolling, chatting, and social media voyeurism. This trend deepened after the COVID-19 pandemic, when online schooling became the norm. What began as a necessity has quietly evolved into a compulsive, even addictive, behaviour pattern.
Why Are Students Hooked? The Psychology of Screen Addiction
“Digital media are not passive tools. They are addictive by design.” — Jean M. Twenge, Psychologist and Author of iGen
Social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube thrive on dopamine-triggering feedback loops—likes, comments, and instant responses. Reels and short videos offer bite-sized entertainment that feels far more stimulating than a slow-moving textbook or lecture. The fear of missing out (FOMO), peer pressure, and the desire for online visibility keep students glued to their screens. A 2023 Pew Research Centre study revealed that 46% of Indian teens check their phones more than 50 times a day.
Moreover, these platforms are designed to be endless—scrolling never stops and neither does the craving. In many homes, especially in urban nuclear families, digital supervision is minimal. Children often consume unfiltered content without guidance or accountability.
Academic Fallout: Skimming Over Studying:
“Heavy screen use reduces attention spans and limits deep thought. Students today skim, they don’t study.” — Dr. Manfred Spitzer, Neuroscientist
Teachers across the country echo a common concern: students today struggle to focus even for half an hour without checking their phones or zoning out. This was not the case a decade ago.Heavy reliance on AI-generated summaries and answers has dulled students’ ability to think critically. Original thought is being replaced by copy-paste culture. A recent Lancet Child & Adolescent Health study (Feb 2024) found that students exposed to more than 4 hours of non-academic screen time daily exhibited a 25–30% reduction in memory and reasoning skills.
Emotional and Mental Health: The Connected Generation is Lonely:
“The most connected generation is also the most anxious.” — Time Magazine, March 2024
In Meghalaya and elsewhere, educators are witnessing a silent rise in mental health challenges. Sr. Delphine Fernandez, former Principal of Holy Child School, Shillong, warns: “Many students are falling prey to online bullying and comparison. Depression, anxiety, even suicidal thoughts are linked to their online experiences.”
Late-night screen use disrupts sleep cycles and creates emotional turbulence. According to India Today (April 2024), one in three teenagers in India report depressive symptoms linked to excessive screen time.
In rural and semi-urban regions like the Garo Hills, these concerns are magnified due to lack of counselors, mental health resources, and parental awareness.
Juvenile Crime and Digital Misconduct: A Disturbing Correlation
The darker side of screen exposure is beginning to reflect in rising cases of juvenile crime.
NCRB 2023 data shows a 17% rise in cyber crimes involving minors, ranging from phishing and impersonation to online abuse. Addiction to online gambling, pornographic content, and aggressive games has even led some students to commit digital fraud using parents’ devices.
A principal from a reputed school in Tura shares: “Two students created fake profiles to cyber bully classmates. Another got involved in online betting groups. These aren’t isolated cases anymore.”
When real-life consequences are blurred by the virtual world, children find it easier to cross moral and legal boundaries.
The Happiness Illusion: Screens vs. Real Connection:
“Screens give us the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship.” — Sherry Turkle, MIT Professor
Today’s students may seem always “connected,” but emotionally, many feel emptier than ever. A 2024 report by The Hindu revealed that 52% of teens feel emotionally drained after long screen sessions.The joy of creative hobbies, outdoor play, or heartfelt conversations is disappearing.
A teacher from Williamnagar recalls:
“Students used to bring paintings or poems. Now, they just show what they watched or uploaded.”
In interviews with school heads from Shillong, Tura, and Williamnagar, a consensus emerged: the need is not to ban screens but to discipline their use.A few common suggestions from them are:
– Digital detox hours, especially during classes and evenings
– Counselling workshops for parents and students
– Incorporation of digital well-being education into school curriculum
– Mandatory offline days and device-free school events
As parents, educators, and policymakers, the task before us is daunting yet urgent. If we don’t intervene today, the next generation may pay a price not just in grades, but in empathy, creativity, and character. Let’s stop mistaking hyper-connectivity for real growth. Let’s give our children the gift of balance. Because in the end, a child’s mind deserves more than a screen—it deserves a future.
References & Data Sources
1. NCERT Digital Usage Report, 2024 – ncert.nic.in
2. Pew Research Center – Global Teens & Tech, 2023 – pewresearch.org
3. Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Study – February 2024 – thelancet.com
4. Time Magazine, March 2024 – Feature on Digital Anxiety
5. India Today Teen Survey – April 2024 – indiatoday.in
6. NCRB Cybercrime Report, 2023 – ncrb.gov.in
7. The Hindu, Teen Emotional Drain Study, 2024 – thehindu.com