As a teacher, columnist, and concerned citizen, I urge parents, educators, and policymakers to come together in this battle to protect our children’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being. We must limit screen time, encourage real-world interactions, and raise a generation that values knowledge, creativity, and meaningful human connections over mindless digital consumption. Let’s break free from mobile addiction and build a healthier, brighter tomorrow.

By Shafqat Kakroo:

In this fast-paced digital era, mobile phones have become an inseparable part of our lives. While technology has undeniably brought convenience and innovation, its overuse among children and adolescents has created an alarming crisis—mobile addiction. This silent epidemic is rapidly affecting the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of young minds, leading to cognitive disorders, attention deficits, and behavioral issues.

Medical Experts Sound the Alarm

Recently, I came across an important media discussion featuring renowned medical experts from Kashmir—Dr. Kaiser , Dr. Sushil Razdan, and Dr. Naveed Nazir who voiced grave concerns over the excessive use of mobile phones by children. Dr. Kaiser shared a shocking statistic: he treats 8 to 9 children daily suffering from health issues directly linked to mobile overuse. This alarming revelation should serve as a wake-up call for parents, educators, and policymakers.

Dr. Kaiser and his fellow experts emphasized the need for urgent intervention, stating that neurological disorders, once rare in children, are now alarmingly common. The most critical years of brain development—ages 3 to 18 are being severely impacted due to prolonged screen exposure.

They also stressed that many children now suffer from sleep disorders, as they use mobile devices late at night, disrupting their natural sleep cycle. As a result, their mental development is negatively affected, leading to fatigue, poor concentration, and mood swings. We were always taught in school that “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise”but this principle has been completely disturbed in today’s generation.

Furthermore, experts raised concerns about ophthalmological issues caused by excessive screen time, as prolonged exposure to blue light leads to weakened eyesight, digital eye strain, and headaches.

The Social Competition: A Harmful Trend

In Kashmiri society, it is common to observe unnecessary competition in various aspects of life, whether it is:
Hosting extravagant marriage functions with expensive decorations, lavish feasts, and top-tier chefs, just to impress others.
Constructing houses that reflect wealth rather than comfort.

Chasing academic excellence not for learning, but to boast about marks and ranks.

And now, the latest trend measuring a child’s intelligence by how ‘techno-smart’ they are.

Many parents proudly boast about their children being digital wizards, but fail to notice the harmful impact of excessive screen time. Unfortunately, this blind race to showcase “Gen Z intelligence” has led to a disastrous neglect of real-life skills, creativity, and emotional intelligence.

As a result, children today are growing up detached from reality, lacking problem-solving skills, patience, and human interaction, which are essential for a balanced and fulfilling life.

The Hidden Dangers of Mobile Addiction

Many parents believe that handing a mobile phone to their child is harmless—sometimes even necessary for entertainment or education. However, scientific research proves otherwise. Prolonged exposure to screens leads to:

Impaired Brain Development: Excessive screen time affects neural connectivity, causing issues with concentration, memory, and cognitive growth.

Sleep Disorders: Blue light exposure at night disrupts sleep cycles, leading to insomnia, fatigue, and irritability.

Obesity and Physical Health Decline: Lack of physical activity leads to childhood obesity, weakened eyesight, and poor posture.

Emotional and Social Detachment: Children engrossed in virtual worlds struggle with real-life interactions, leading to social anxiety and poor communication skills.

Addiction and Behavioral Issues: The dopamine rush from mobile use mimics substance addiction, making children restless, irritable, and aggressive when deprived of their devices.

The Role of Parents: Urgent Action Required

Medical experts have made it clear—there is no alternative to parental intervention. Parents must wake up and take control before it’s too late.

Key Steps for Parents:

1. Strict Screen Time Limits: Set a daily mobile usage schedule and ensure children adhere to it.

2. Monitor Content Consumption: Regularly check what your child is watching and engaging with online.

3. Promote Physical Activities: Encourage outdoor games, sports, and hobbies that enhance creativity and physical health.

4. Prioritize Family Bonding: Replace screen time with real conversations, storytelling, and shared activities.

5. Set an Example: Children mimic adults—if parents are glued to their phones, children will follow.

6. No Screens During Meals and Before Bedtime: Establish a rule that meal times and pre-bed hours are strictly phone-free.

7. Educate About Digital Well-being: Make children aware of the harmful effects of excessive mobile usage and encourage self-discipline.

Schools Must Enforce a Mobile Ban

While parents play a crucial role, schools must also take responsibility in combating mobile addiction. Experts strongly recommend a strict ban on mobile phones in schools, except for essential educational purposes under supervision.

Instead of relying on digital tools excessively, schools should:

Encourage Interactive Learning: Promote books, discussions, and hands-on activities over digital dependence.
Emphasize Physical Education: Ensure children engage in daily exercise and sports activities.

Introduce Mental Health Counseling: Provide regular counseling sessions to educate students about digital addiction and coping mechanisms.

A Call to Action: Save Our Future

If we once feared cancer as a growing epidemic, today, neurological disorders linked to mobile addiction are an even bigger threat. The decline in children’s attention spans, rising cases of depression, and increased incidents of cyberbullying prove that we cannot afford to be passive observers.

The time for action is now.

As a teacher, columnist, and concerned citizen, I urge parents, educators, and policymakers to come together in this battle to protect our children’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

We must limit screen time, encourage real-world interactions, and raise a generation that values knowledge, creativity, and meaningful human connections over mindless digital consumption.

Let’s break free from mobile addiction and build a healthier, brighter tomorrow.