New Delhi, Jan 29 (NationPress) The issue of digital addiction is rapidly emerging as a major health concern among minors and young adults, contributing significantly to the mental health crisis in the nation, as highlighted by the government in the Economic Survey 2025-26.

Presented in Parliament by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, the Survey indicates that digital addiction is directly correlated with the declining mental well-being of the country's youth.

According to the report, "Digital addiction adversely impacts academic performance and workplace efficiency due to distractions, 'sleep debt,' and diminished concentration. It also undermines social capital."

In response to this growing issue, the CBSE has released guidelines aimed at promoting safe internet practices in schools and during transportation. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education has implemented the Pragyatah framework, which focuses on digital education planning while considering screen time, along with guidelines from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights regarding screen time limits and online safety.

The Survey also pointed out the alarming rates of social media addiction among individuals aged 15-24, which is significantly linked to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and stress from cyberbullying.

Additional challenges faced by Indian youth include compulsive scrolling, social comparison, and gaming disorders.

These issues are increasingly resulting in sleep disruptions, aggression, social withdrawal, and depression, particularly affecting adolescents.

The government has initiated several measures to combat these challenges, as noted in the Survey.

This includes the Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States), which has received over 32 lakh calls since its launch in October 2022; the SHUT (Service for Healthy Use of Technology) Clinic at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, providing specialized care for excessive technology use among adolescents and young adults; and the Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2025, which aims to tackle digital addiction and financial risks among youth.

As complete restriction of digital access is impractical, the Survey recommends creating offline youth hubs, especially in urban slums and rural regions, to offer alternatives to digital environments, along with moderated online safe spaces managed by schools or similar organizations.

“Educational institutions play a crucial role in shaping digital behaviors, and therefore, they should implement a Digital Wellness Curriculum that addresses screen time literacy, cyber safety, and mental health awareness,” the report states, emphasizing that a “holistic approach, considering both physical and mental health, is vital to ensure a resilient future.”