New Delhi, January 29: Citing global indications of restrictions on social media for children, the Economic Survey presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday suggested considering age-based limits for online platform use.
The Economic Survey 2025-26, presented in the Parliament, stated that schools play a crucial role in improving children’s digital habits. Access to educational content should be encouraged through simple devices (such as simple phones or tablets) to protect children from harmful content. Online learning should also be curtailed to prevent digital addiction. According to the survey, policies regarding age-based access limits could be considered, as younger users are more vulnerable to compulsive use and harmful content. Online platforms should be held responsible for age verification and enforcing age-appropriate default settings. This should be mandatory, especially for social media gambling apps, auto-play features, and targeted advertising.
The survey recommended promoting safe tools to combat the growing digital addiction problem. It stated that schools should introduce a “digital wellness curriculum” that includes awareness about screen time, cybersecurity, and mental health. Dependence on online learning tools, which began during COVID-19, should be reduced and offline learning should be prioritized. The
The Economic Survey 2025-26 identified digital addiction as a growing problem affecting the mental health of youth and adults. The survey encouraged families to educate and set time limits on mobile use and promote shared offline activities. It also called for conducting workshops for parents through schools and community centers to train them on setting healthy boundaries, recognizing signs of addiction, and effectively using parental control tools.