
By Fazal Ansari
Srinagar- Kashmir is witnessing a new kind of pandemic in the form of what experts call “Digital Addiction,” which is having a widespread impact on mental, physical, and social well-being, particularly among children.
Experts from various fields gathered at Amar Singh Club for the second session of its Common Interest Conversations series on January 31, 2025, focusing on “Digital Addiction: An Invisible Pandemic.”
Discussion was chaired by eminent neurologist Dr. Sushil Razdan and panel stressed that excessive screen time is causing developmental issues, sleep disorders, anxiety, poor social skills, and even physical ailments like posture-related injuries and vision problems.
The event featured a distinguished panel of medical experts and professionals who discussed the severe physical, mental, and social consequences of digital overuse.
Experts highlighted its impact on brain development, mental health, vision, posture, and social interactions, particularly among children. The discussion emphasized the need for parental supervision, digital rationing, outdoor activities, and policy interventions such as banning social media for children, restricting screen time, and promoting digital detox strategies. The event underscored the urgent need for collective efforts by families, society, and the government to mitigate the rising crisis of digital dependency.
In his opening remarks, senior lawyer Zaffar Shah noted that the substantial presence of distinguished personalities itself underscored the gravity of the issue. He set the tone for the discussion by raising two key concerns:
1. Is digital technology itself a problem?
2. If so, how should society’s parents, communities and the governments address it?
“It is a matter of observation that when you walk or drive down in Srinagar, out of ten boys or girls, 6 or 7 are using it while they are walking also. Shah said that this was a man-made problem and not something divine that cannot be controlled or managed.”
He emphasized the urgent need for a societal response to this man-made crisis.
The Science Behind Digital Addiction
Dr. Razdan drew a stark comparison between past technological advancements like cars, airplanes, and radios that changed the way people lived and digital technology, which has fundamentally altered human behavior.
He said that children born or brought up during the age of digital technology are called ‘Digital Natives’ while his own generation were ‘Digital Immigrants.’
It has been established that minds and behaviour of these children was entirely different. He stated that they are withdrawn, suffer from autism and attention disorders, prefer to use digital devices instead of playing, connect with friends through digital devices and consequently face an entirely different set of problems.
Dr Razdan cited scientific studies, including MRI-based research, proving that excessive screen time alters brain development, leading to memory impairment, weakened problem-solving skills, and an inability to handle life’s challenges. In children, digital addiction has been linked to autism-like traits, attention disorders, and social withdrawal.
For adults and the elderly, overuse of digital devices contributes to headaches, neck pain, anxiety disorders, insomnia, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), aggression, and reduced social interactions. He strongly advised parents to keep digital devices away from children under five years old and impose strict supervision on digital use for older children.
Commending the family and social structure of Kashmiri society, Dr Razdan said that in Jammu he often gets patients from Delhi and other places who are forced to come alone, but when a Kashmiri patient visits him they are accompanied by a platoon of family members and friends which indicated the depth of Kashmiri social fabric. “This was something to be preserved and cherished,” he stressed.
Dr. Kaisar Ahmad, former Principal & Head of Paediatrics, GMC, Srinagar, raised alarm over the early exposure of infants (as young as 4-6 months old) to screens, leading to reduced eye contact, weakened social skills, and an increased risk of vision and hearing impairments, obesity, hyperactivity, and depression. He urged parents to actively engage children in physical and mentally stimulating activities rather than relying on digital devices as a distraction.
“We see that children have started losing direct eye-to-eye contact, and in some cases their minds construe the digital device to be their parents.”
He stated that there was a sharp increase in cases of vision and hearing impairments, obesity, hyperactivity, children showing more aggressive behaviour and higher frequency of depression and anxiety, greatly reduced social skills and relationships and a visible impact on their attention, memory and problem-solving skills and many other conditions which are directly attributable to use and abuse of digital devices.
He said that the proper development of brains during the formative years of children required constant mental engagements which was achievable only by challenging mental activities which required attention and focus complemented with team sports and physical activities. Elaborating, he stated that five critical fundamentals of healthy personality development were mental, social, spiritual, physical and emotional, and parents today were required to address all of these fundamental blocks in help their children grow into healthy individuals.
He said that although managing this addiction may appear to be a daunting task but it was important for family and the community not to adopt a defeatist attitude as it would result in obliteration of society as we know it today. He also stressed upon the need for reforms in the education sector like the use of internet services for only essential academic purposes, ban on use of mobile phones in schools, provision of counselling services, providing of alternate avenues and infrastructure for enhancing mental and physical activities.
Noted Pulmonologist Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah highlighted the sedentary lifestyle induced by digital addiction, which has led to a rise in lifestyle-related diseases. He called for active parental monitoring, arguing that digital addiction cannot be tackled with apps alone but requires consistent family involvement and awareness campaigns.
Dr. Majid Shafi, Incharge Mental Health & Addiction Treatment Programme, Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, emphasized the link between screen addiction and deteriorating sleep patterns, leading to depression, anxiety, and even violent behavior. He said that aggression and violent criminal behaviour by juveniles and young adults had been associated with pornographic addiction. He supported legislative action to restrict digital exposure for children, citing Australia’s ban on social media for minors under 16.
Physical and Psychological Consequences
Dr. Tariq Trumboo, Interventional Pain Physician, with large social media fan following, shared his clinical findings, revealing a surge in musculoskeletal issues, particularly neck pain. He explained that bending the neck at a 60-degree angle while looking at a smartphone puts an equivalent of 27 kg of pressure on the cervical spine, often leading to irreversible joint degeneration.
He said that students and users of digital devices needed to be educated about the proper posture for using devices
Dr. Najeeb Drabu prominent orthopedist noted an increase in wrist nerve entrapments and spinal problems linked to excessive screen time, while Dr. Khursheed Ahmed warned of an alarming rise in digital eye strain, myopia, and retinal damage among children and adults alike. He advised limiting screen time to two hours daily, using blue-light-blocking lenses, and following the 20-20-20 rule (taking a break every 20 minutes to look 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
Writer Dr. Javid Iqbal described digital addiction as a mass psychological phenomenon requiring a collective response from families and communities. He lamented the decline in family bonding, with meals now consumed in silence as everyone remains glued to their screens.
Education, Policy, and Community Responsibility
Educationist G. N. War highlighted a concerning decline in literacy rates due to over-reliance on digital platforms. He called for public policy changes similar to those in Singapore, advocating for large-screen classroom teaching rather than mobile-based learning.
Radio jockey Sardar Nasir Ali Khan stressed the importance of parental responsibility, recommending the strict use of parental controls and supporting a ban on social media for children.
Dr. Musharaf warned against the normalization of digital addiction in families, pointing out that even parents are deeply engrossed in their devices, setting a poor example for their children. She also raised concerns about rising cyber scams and online gambling cases in Kashmir.
The Road to Recovery ‘Digital Fasting’ & Lifestyle Changes
Club Secretary Nasir Hamid Khan described digital addiction as an insidious form of dependency akin to drug addiction, where the constant pursuit of digital stimulation numbs the mind and erodes creativity, purpose, and real-world interactions.
He emphasised on the need to popularise the concept of ‘Digital Fasting’ wherein abstinence from digital consumption for a minimum of one month allows the brain to reset and regain cognitive balance. Modern psychiatrists recommend this method to reduce anxiety, restore mental clarity, and break the cycle of compulsive digital use.
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