Congress MLA Sounds Alarm Over Children's Digital Addiction in Rajasthan Assembly
Congress MLA Manish Yadav on Friday raised serious concerns in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly regarding the escalating digital addiction among children across the state. He urgently appealed to the state government to formulate a comprehensive regulatory policy aimed at ensuring safer digital engagement for minors.
Groundbreaking AIIMS Study Reveals Alarming Screen Time Statistics
Yadav referenced a significant meta-analysis published in the Cureus journal in June 2025, conducted by researchers at AIIMS Raipur. This extensive study meticulously analyzed 10 research papers encompassing data from 2,857 children throughout India. The findings were startling: children under five years old are spending an average of 2.22 hours daily on screens. This figure is nearly double the safe limit recommended by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP).
Even more concerning was the data regarding younger children. The study revealed that children below two years are exposed to screens for 1.23 hours per day. This occurs despite clear guidelines from health authorities recommending absolutely zero screen time for this vulnerable age group.
Real-World Consequences Across Rajasthan
Highlighting the tangible impacts within Rajasthan, Yadav presented a troubling picture of the state's digital landscape. He cited multiple cases of online gaming debt accumulating among youth in major cities including Jaipur, Kota, and Jodhpur. Furthermore, he brought attention to serious cyberbullying incidents reported in Ajmer and Alwar.
The MLA also expressed deep concern over the increasing exposure of minors to violent and gangster-themed content proliferating on various social media platforms. In Kota, renowned as the nation's coaching hub, counselors have documented a sharp rise in student anxiety, persistent sleep disturbances, and declining academic concentration. These issues are directly linked to excessive and unregulated mobile phone usage among the student population.
The Psychological Mechanics of Digital Addiction
"Algorithm-driven platforms are meticulously designed to maximize user engagement," Yadav explained during his address. "For children, whose brains are still developing, this design leads to compulsive scrolling behaviors, creates a dependency on dopamine hits, and ultimately results in impaired cognitive development. We are witnessing a public health crisis unfold on our screens."
Supporting his arguments with global research, Yadav referenced comprehensive studies conducted by WHO and UNICEF. These international bodies have consistently found that excessive screen exposure in childhood is strongly associated with heightened anxiety, increased depression rates, various behavioral issues, and significantly poorer academic performance.
Proposed Regulatory Framework for Digital Safety
Yadav presented a multi-faceted proposal for digital regulation specifically targeting children below 16 years of age. His comprehensive recommendations include:
- Implementation of age-based digital access restrictions
- Mandatory parental control features on all devices and platforms
- Default screen-time limits set by manufacturers
- Night-time auto-lock systems to ensure healthy sleep patterns
- Increased algorithmic accountability from tech companies
- Integration of digital wellbeing education into school curricula
- Establishment of dedicated helplines and counseling centres
"This initiative is not about banning technology or reversing progress," Yadav clarified. "This is fundamentally about protecting the mental health, emotional wellbeing, and future potential of our children. We must create a digital environment that supports their growth rather than hindering it."
The MLA's intervention has sparked significant discussion in political and educational circles about the urgent need for digital literacy combined with protective regulations. As screen time continues to increase across all age groups, Rajasthan now faces critical questions about balancing technological advancement with child development safeguards.
