Technology Addiction on Rise Among Indian Kids

Nearly 82 percent of kids in Indian metros are technology addictive and prone to its after affects like social isolation, insomnia, depression, and other mental health disorders, reveals a recent survey.
Technology Addiction on Rise Among Indian Kids
Nearly 82 percent of kids in Indian metros are technology addictive and prone to its after affects like social isolation, insomnia, depression, and other mental health disorders, reveals a recent survey. (Jung Yeon-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
9/21/2013
Updated:
9/21/2013

Nearly 82 percent of kids in Indian metros are technology addicted and prone to its after affects like social isolation, insomnia, depression, and other mental health disorders, reveals a recent survey.

The countrywide survey conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) found that kids aged 5 to 14 have their own mobile phone, tablet, iPad etc.

“Excessive use of mobile phones makes teenagers more restless and can exacerbate sleep problems, and stress,” said Dr. B K Rao, chairman of ASSOCHAM Health Committee in a press statement.

Rao further said that youngsters need to be informed of the negative effects of excessive technology use on their sleep-wake patterns, attention and cognitive problems, and the associated serious health risks.

The survey highlighted that children of working parents are more technology addictive in the absence of parental supervision, as compared to those whose single parent is engaged in employment. This trend is abundant in metros where normally both the parents are employed, reveals the survey revealed.

“Easy availability of technology with lack of parental supervision is a significant reason for this ever-increasing menace of technology addiction,” D S Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM said in the statement.

The survey also found that over 63 percent of kids have access to a computer in their homes and the figure is expected to grow tremendously with easy access to technology. “These kids go online at least once weekly and over a third or 27 percent use the Internet daily,” the survey report said.

The survey was conducted in ten major cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahemdabad, Lucknow, and Jaipur.