The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled in the Parliament on Thursday, flagged the rapid rise of digital addiction among Indians, increasing screen time, and mental health challenges.
The problem is mainly found among teenagers, adolescents, and children. Raising the alarming concern, the excessive engagement with smartphones, social media, gaming, and online platforms is beginning to hamper mental health conditions, leading to psychological illness and stress.
The survey defines digital addiction as a pattern of persistent, excessive, or compulsive use of digital devices and online activities that leads to psychological distress and functional impairment.
According to the survey, adolescent behaviour is associated with reduced concentration, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and declining academic or workplace performance. Over time, it also weakens social capital by eroding peer networks, lowering community participation, and diminishing offline social skills.
Beyond personal and social consequences, the report points to wider economic costs.
Compulsive digital use, the survey notes, is closely linked to anxiety, stress, depression, and sleep disorders, especially among students under academic pressure and those exposed to cyberbullying and high-stimulus digital platforms.
‘Digital overuse has a detrimental effect on not only mental health but also the well-being of the younger generation and is a key reason why several lifestyle diseases are showing up at a far younger age due to reduced physical activities,” said Dr Rajiv Mehta, a senior consultant psychiatrist with the Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science
The report raises concern over social media addiction, as it is strongly associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and cyberbullying stress.
Despite these risks, digital engagement continues to deepen. In 2024, nearly half of India’s internet users watched online videos, while 43 per cent accessed social media, 40 per cent used email or streamed music, and 26 per cent made digital payments. In absolute numbers, this translates to around 40 crore users on OTT video and food delivery platforms and close to 35 crore on social media.
