Internet Media: Internet and Social Media Addiction—A Threat to Children's Mental Health; How to Keep Them Safe?

The beauty filters, auto-play features, and the constant compulsion to count "likes" on social media platforms have mentally weakened an entire generation. Recently, a similar case reached a court in California, USA, where the court imposed a fine of $6 million on Meta and YouTube due to the rampant misuse of such addictive features. Efforts are underway globally to address how social media addiction is evolving into a mental health epidemic for children and adolescents.

Legal provisions are being implemented in Australia and several European countries to limit the presence of adolescents on social media platforms. Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee attached to the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology recommended adopting a strict stance regarding social media usage by young children. According to the Standing Committee, this usage is hurting children's mental health, privacy, and behavior. The report suggests that India, too, should learn from international experiences. Initiatives in this direction have already begun in certain states, such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

**How ​​Algorithms Take Hold**

Recall that in 2006, Facebook first introduced the "News Feed" to enable users to view their friends' posts in a single, centralized location. However, over the past two decades, the nature of these algorithmic feeds has undergone a complete transformation. In fact, users today possess almost negligible control over the content that appears in their feeds. To keep users engaged, social media companies are flooding feeds with content that is often shocking or provocative.

It has become an unwritten rule that these companies will prioritize—and give prominence to—only that content which successfully captures people's attention. In their relentless pursuit of profit, social media companies certainly do not want you to put down your phone to go for a walk or to sit in a garden and converse with your loved ones. This addiction runs so deep that the moment even the slightest feeling of despondency arises, one instinctively turns to Facebook, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram to begin scrolling.

**A Matter of Greater Gravity for Children**

The extent to which social media—unfettered by checks and balances—is influencing the new generation can be gauged from a recent incident in Ghaziabad, where three minor sisters, all school dropouts, committed suicide due to an addiction to Korean online games. The sole provocation was that their father had forbidden them from engaging in these activities and had deleted their YouTube channel. Even the United States—often hailed as the global hub of technology—is today making every conceivable effort to shield its children from these perils.

Just a few days ago, the British Technology Secretary went so far as to issue an apology for the failure to adequately protect children from toxic online content. We, too, must come to terms with the fact that while one can place trust in a child, one possesses absolutely no control over what transpires—or what *could* transpire—within the realm of social media. Nevertheless, a multifaceted approach can be adopted, ranging from legal safeguards and digital literacy initiatives to parental control systems and heightened awareness regarding online privacy.

**A Major Challenge Confronting India**

To rescue children from the insidious trap of screens and endless scrolling, a definitive "full stop" must be applied somewhere along the line. In India, over 250 million children fall within the 10-to-19 age bracket. While they possess access to smartphones and the internet, they often lack the requisite understanding of how to utilize these tools in a responsible and balanced manner. A report by NITI Aayog reveals that children as young as five years old spend an average of one and a half hours online, while those aged 6 to 10 spend between two and two and a half hours. By the age of 16, a significant number of children have already developed addictions to social media, as well as to activities such as online chatting and gaming. These statistics serve as a stark warning of a looming "digital pandemic"—a crisis that demands immediate, multi-pronged intervention.

**Why Restrictions Are Essential**

Platforms like "Reels" and "Shorts" are often inundated with adult-oriented content and advertisements for films. Given that the brains of adolescents are not yet fully developed, children must be shielded from exposure to such content. They are not fully prepared to handle the pressures of appearing perfect, achieving better reach, and dealing with issues like bullying on social media.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Dainik Jagran. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.