The Karnataka government’s proposal to restrict social media access for children under 16, announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has triggered a nationwide conversation about the impact of early digital exposure on children’s health. According to mental health experts, the move reflects growing concern about how social media, excessive screen time, and digital addiction are affecting young minds during critical stages of development.
“Social media platforms that children access during their developmental period create an environment where they face persistent comparison activities and cybersecurity threats, together with dangerous life situations, which ultimately lead to anxiety disorders, self-esteem issues, and emotional problems,” Dr. Pretty Duggar Gupta, Consultant - Psychiatrist, Aster Whitefield Hospital, told Times Now Health.
Children today are exposed to digital platforms at increasingly younger ages. While social media can offer various opportunities for learning and connection, mental health experts are wary of the “wrong kind of exposure,” which is creating severe psychological pressure.
During childhood and adolescence, the brain is still developing – especially the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. This region continues to mature until around the mid-twenties. Social media platforms often rely on likes, shares, and comments, which trigger the brain’s reward system. Experts say this can lead young users to develop validation-seeking behaviour, where self-worth becomes closely tied to online approval.
As a result, teenagers may become more vulnerable to anxiety, self-esteem issues, and emotional stress, especially when they compare themselves with others online. “While young minds are still developing, their ability to process social feedback and criticism, and their online experiences can create a major impact on their self-worth development and identity formation,” Dr. Gupta added.
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Dr. Gupta has also warned about the impact of social media on sleep patterns. Many children and teenagers use smartphones late at night, often checking notifications or scrolling through short-form content. Blue light emitted from screens suppresses melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. Poor sleep quality in adolescents has been linked to:
There is a tremendous rise in digital eye strain and early-onset myopia, also known as short-sightedness, among children today. According to eye specialists, kids spend long hours staring at screens, and their blink rate decreases, leading to dry eyes, headaches, and visual fatigue.
“People who watch screens for extended periods experience decreased blinking because they keep their eyes on nearby things, which causes ongoing visual system strain. Social media access restrictions during early childhood help decrease unnecessary screen time while promoting outdoor activities, which benefit children's eye development and visual growth,” said Dr. Bhavya Reddy, Consultant - Ophthalmology, Aster Whitefield Hospital.
There is a tremendous rise in digital eye strain and early onset myopia
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