Digital Addiction Among India’s Youth: Understanding the 2025-26 Economic Survey

The Economic Survey 2025-26, presented on January 29, brings to light a pressing concern among the youth of India: digital and gaming addiction. As India transforms into a digitally empowered nation, the government acknowledges that excessive involvement with online platforms poses a considerable threat to the younger generation.

Rebalancing Engagement with Technology

The survey emphasizes that the objective is not to vilify technology, but rather to recalibrate young people’s interaction by blending protective measures with positive offline experiences.

India’s Decisive Legislative Action

At the core of India’s plan is the Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2025. This landmark legislation marks a significant advancement in mitigating financial risks and compulsive behaviours among the youth. The Act explicitly prohibits online gambling games involving betting, aiming to avert debt and financial distress. It establishes a stringent licensing system for acceptable skill-based games and enforces robust limitations on advertising to decrease the attractiveness of addictive platforms.

The Economic Necessity of Addressing Digital Addiction

According to the Economic Survey, addressing digital addiction is not merely a social issue but an economic imperative. The Survey cautions that digital addiction compromises the cognitive and social development of future generations, paralleling physical dangers associated with increasing obesity rates and inadequate nutrition.

India’s Comprehensive Response

India’s strategy is diverse, encompassing resources like the Tele-MANAS 24/7 mental health helpline and the dedicated SHUT (Service for Healthy Use of Technology) Clinic at NIMHANS in Bengaluru.

The primary aim is to ensure that digital advancements serve as a means of empowerment rather than a pathway to addiction. By prioritizing sustainable wellbeing over temporary satisfaction, India is committed to nurturing a future-ready and resilient workforce capable of fostering enduring economic progress.

The Challenge of Data on Digital Addiction

The Economic Survey identifies a significant hurdle in confronting digital addiction: the absence of comprehensive national data on its prevalence and mental health consequences. This gap inhibits targeted interventions, proper resource distribution, and the incorporation of digital wellness into the national mental health framework.

The forthcoming Second National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), spearheaded by NIMHANS and commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is anticipated to yield empirical and actionable findings regarding the prevalence of mental health challenges within the Indian context.

Global Health Perspective

India’s proactive measures resonate with the global medical consensus. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has formally acknowledged online gaming addiction as a mental health disorder, termed ‘Gaming Disorder’ in the ICD-11. This disorder is identified by an inability to control gaming activities and the tendency to prioritise gaming over crucial daily responsibilities, even in the face of adverse outcomes.

International Approaches to Combat Digital Addiction

Countries worldwide are taking significant steps to address this issue. China has instituted a ‘fatigue system’ imposing strict limitations on gaming time, allowing minors only one hour of play on weekends and holidays. Australia has established a nationwide prohibition on social media access for children under the age of 16, while South Korea introduced the ‘Shutdown Law’, restricting late-night access, although it has since moved towards models focused on parental controls and specialised recovery centres like the ‘I Will Centres’ in Seoul.