Dr. Satyawan Saurabh
If screens come into the hands of children instead of books, then the light of childhood drowns in blue light.” Nowadays a new scene has become common—children playing with mobile phones, not with toys. No hide and seek under trees in summer vacations, no kite flying on the roof, no bicycle race in the streets. Instead, glasses on the eyes, irritability in the mind and fingers glued to the mobile screen all the time. This scene is not just a sign of “development” but “distortion”
What is withdrawal syndrome?
When a child gets addicted to excessive use of mobile or tablet and is suddenly deprived of it, he starts showing reactions like restlessness, anger, frustration, lack of sleep, headache, loss of appetite, or crying. This is called “withdrawal syndrome”. These symptoms are similar to the symptoms that come when someone quits an addiction. According to doctors, every week 4-5 such cases are coming up in every hospital where small children are behaving violently when they do not get mobile.
Increasing mobile addiction: Statistics and reality
In India, 70% of children above 5 years of age are connected to some form of smartphone or tablet. According to WHO (World Health Organization), children under 5 years of age should not have screen time more than 1 hour. In India, it is an average of 3 to 5 hours per day. According to NCERT report, in 2024, 67% of students of class 6th to 10th admitted that they have become addicted to games or social media on mobile.
Effects on mental health
The fast visuals and sounds on mobile phones make children consider the slow pace of real life as boring.
Aggression: Violent elements shown in games and videos increase irritability and violence in the behavior of children.
Sleep problems: Staring at screens late at night reduces the level of melatonin hormone, which affects the quality of sleep. Decreased language and social skills: Mobile phones reduce communicative activities, which impedes language development and social behavior.
The role of parents
Children do not ask for mobile phones themselves, this habit is given to them by their parents – to feed them, to keep them quiet, or to save their own time. This convenience slowly turns into an addiction. Parents should watch their own use before giving mobile phones to their children. Giving mobile phones every time during meals becomes a dangerous habit. Parents say “we don’t have time”, but this time is saved at the cost of their mental development.
Responsibility of school and society
Schools should make a clear policy on the balanced use of technology. Mental health, digital behavior and outdoor activities should be made compulsory in children’s curriculum. School counseling should be activated to identify early signs of digital addiction in children.
What could be the solution?
Fix a digital detox time. Fix a time every day in the house when all the members keep the mobile away, like dinner, morning tea etc. Promote outdoor activities.
Engage children in activities like parks, sports, gardening. This is a natural way to divert their attention. Give stories instead of screens. Reading a story every night instead of mobile can be a boon for children’s mental health. Create a digital discipline.
Make a ‘mobile rule chart’ at home that will specify who will use the mobile, when, and for how long.
Children’s childhood: It is hidden in touch, not in the screen
Childhood is a time when one should be allowed to play with mud, not just play “Farmville” on mobile. Relationships, emotions, patience, communication and creativity are not built through mobile phones, but through human contact.
Withdrawal syndrome is just a warning. It tells us that it’s time to get back to making kids ‘kids’ — not digital products.
There will be consciousness today
If we do not wake up today, the coming generation will be technologically advanced but emotionally poor. The cure for mobile addiction is not only with the doctor, but in the lap of parents, sensitivity of teachers and awareness of society. Mobile is a need today, but it should remain “only a need” for children, it should not become a “habit” – this is the biggest demand of this time.
While on one hand the mobile phone has become a medium of modern education and information, on the other hand it is also becoming a serious obstacle in the mental, social and emotional development of children. When a child becomes restless, aggressive or isolates himself without a mobile, it becomes not just a technical problem but a social and family crisis. Withdrawal syndrome is emerging in children in the same way as it happens in a drug addict when he gets rid of the addiction.
Therefore, this is the time when parents, teachers and society should join hands to connect children not only with technology but also with life. Just snatching away the mobile is not the solution, but it is important to provide emotional security to children through conversation, touch, games and stories. Discussion on digital discipline should start in homes and mental health in schools.
If we still turn a blind eye, a generation will be born that will be technically proficient but emotionally bankrupt. We need to give our children the wisdom to live a smart life, not a smartphone.
(The author is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected])
