New Delhi: The Economic Survey 2025–26 has delivered a sobering warning for a hyper-connected India: the country’s young population is spending too much time online, and the costs are beginning to show. Presented ahead of Budget 2026, the Survey flags rising digital addiction among children and youth as a serious public health and productivity concern, marking a shift from celebrating access to questioning excess.

With internet use now almost universal among those aged 15 to 29, the Survey notes that connectivity is no longer India’s challenge. Instead, it is the unchecked use of smartphones, social media and online gaming that is worrying policymakers. Children under five, the report points out, are already spending far more time on screens than recommended, while adolescents and young adults are increasingly locked into platforms designed to maximise attention and engagement.

The consequences, the Survey cautions, go well beyond distraction. Excessive screen time is being linked to sleep problems, anxiety, declining academic performance, reduced physical activity and weakening social interactions in the offline world. Over time, this compulsive digital behaviour could also dent workplace efficiency and learning outcomes, posing risks to India’s much-touted demographic dividend.

Rather than calling for outright bans, the Economic Survey nudges the debate towards smarter guardrails. It suggests age-appropriate access to social media, stronger age-verification norms and greater accountability for digital platforms. It also stresses the need for digital hygiene education — for parents, schools and young users — to help families set boundaries in an always-online environment.

As smartphones get cheaper and screen time creeps higher, the Survey draws attention to a critical trade-off facing the country. India’s digital revolution has delivered scale, speed and opportunity, but without conscious checks, it warns, the same tools could quietly undermine the wellbeing of the next generation.

BI Bureau