Thiruvananthapuram: The General Education Department has invited public opinion on possible measures to address the growing problem of social media addiction among children, with Minister V Sivankutty stressing the need for a serious and timely debate on the issue.

Acknowledging that technology is an inseparable part of modern life, Sivankutty said the rapid increase in social media use among children had emerged as a matter of grave concern. “While technology cannot be wished away, the manner in which children are getting addicted to social media demands urgent attention,” he said at a press conference. His remarks come amid fresh concerns flagged in the Economic Survey about rising digital addiction across age groups in India and recent suicides among adolescents.

The minister noted that several developed countries and many Indian states have already begun exploring legislation to regulate children’s use of social media. The issue is particularly relevant in Kerala, which ranks among the leading states in internet literacy and mobile phone usage. Highlighting the impact of excessive screen exposure, the minister said that a childhood meant for outdoor play and social interaction is increasingly being confined to small mobile screens. He warned that prolonged screen time is adversely affecting children’s physical health, mental wellbeing and their ability to engage socially.“A generation addicted to screens will pose a serious challenge to building the future of our society,” he said.

No blanket ban, focus on responsible use
Clarifying the government’s approach, Sivankutty said the aim is not to impose a complete ban on internet usage. Instead, the focus is on ensuring responsible and sensible use of digital platforms by children. The minister said the government wants to initiate a wide-ranging public debate on how best to address the issue.

Seeking public feedback, Sivankutty posed two key questions: whether Kerala needs a strict social media regulation law specifically for children, or whether the priority should be on large-scale awareness programmes targeting parents and children.

He stressed that forming a clear and informed public opinion is essential to ensure a safe and secure future for children. The General Education Department, the minister said, will carry out a detailed study on the matter. He also called for constructive suggestions and cooperation from all sections of society as the state looks to address the growing challenge of social media addiction among children.

The recently released Economic Survey had linked social media addiction, particularly among those aged 15 to 24, with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and stress related to cyberbullying. Gaming addiction has been associated with sleep disruption, aggression, social withdrawal and depressive symptoms, while online gambling is linked to financial stress, anxiety, depression and even suicidal ideation.

To address these risks, the Survey recommends a structured, multi-pronged approach. Key suggestions include introducing age-based access to online platforms, ensuring platform responsibility for age verification and safer default settings, and developing a comprehensive set of indicators to assess the effectiveness of digital addiction interventions. It also recommends parental workshops to help identify early signs of addiction and use digital control tools effectively. For adults, it suggests awareness programmes promoting self-regulation and so-called digital diets to limit screen time.

The Survey also proposes expanding the national Tele-MANAS programme beyond crisis counselling to actively address digital addiction. It recommends integrating the programme with school and college systems and training dedicated counsellors to enable early intervention and normalise help-seeking behaviour.