Is social media changing the way children think and behave?
ETimes March 25, 2026 06:41 PM
“As our ancient wisdom says — ‘Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati’ — a child becomes what the mind absorbs. What we expose them to today becomes who they are tomorrow.”
Is social media changing the way children think and behave? This question no longer exists — whether social media is affecting children or not.
We all know the truth.
Children are being taken away from their natural childhood right in front of our eyes. And it is not happening suddenly. It is happening quietly, every single day, through the screens they hold.
It is shaping their behaviour.
It is shaping how they think.
And more importantly, it is shaping the future of their lives.
A child today is not fully living childhood the way it was meant to be lived. In many cases, children have slowly become part of a system where social media platforms are designed to hold them, engage them, and keep them coming back again and again.
These platforms are not accidental. They are carefully created environments. Every feature, every scroll, every notification is designed with one purpose — to keep the user hooked.
And children, with their developing minds, are the easiest to influence.
We have been raising awareness on this for more than 10 years through World Digital Detox Day, a non-profit movement started in 2016. At a time when this question itself did not exist, we could already see where technology was heading. That is why this movement was born — to protect children and families in what was clearly becoming a digital environment that could overwhelm human life.
But at that time, very few people took it seriously.
Parents did not see it as a risk.
Teachers were not prepared for it.
And governments were not yet ready to respond.
Today, the impact is visible.
In many ways, this generation is already experiencing the consequences. And the difficult part is that even now, many parents are either not fully aware or are unable to understand how deep this influence has gone.
Some do understand, but feel helpless — waiting for stronger action at a policy level.
We are already seeing early reflections of this concern in developed countries like Australia, France, Denmark and others, where discussions and steps around restricting children’s access to social media are beginning to take shape.
In India as well, we have taken this concern forward by filing a petition with the government, seeking action on social media platforms and stronger safeguards for children, including restrictions below a certain age.
Because the reality is simple.
These platforms are extremely powerful.
They are backed by billion-dollar systems. Their algorithms are designed in such a way that once a child enters, it becomes difficult to disconnect.
Just think about it.
If something can hold your child’s attention for hours without interruption, then it is no longer just a tool.
It becomes the strongest influence in your child’s life.
And this brings us to a very important question.
Are these platforms your child’s caregiver?
Are they responsible for guiding your child’s thinking, behaviour, and future?
The answer is clearly no.
These platforms are businesses.
Their goal is engagement.
Their model is attention.
Their outcome is profit.
And when something is built on profit, it will always prioritise growth, not your child’s wellbeing.
The attention economy and the developing mind
What we are seeing today is the result of what experts call the attention economy.
Social media platforms are designed to maximise engagement. Notifications, personalised feeds, short videos — everything is built to keep the user engaged for as long as possible.
For adults, this is already distracting.
For children, it is shaping the brain.
Young minds are naturally drawn to reward and novelty. Social media delivers both constantly. Every like, every comment, every notification becomes a small reward, creating a pattern of repeated behaviour.
Over time, attention changes.
Patience reduces.
Thinking becomes faster, but often more reactive.
This is not just about screen time.it is about how mind is navigated
Psychological and behavioural shifts Well, educators are beginning to notice this trend.
Kids are having a hard time concentrating for extended stretches.
Teenagers often feel pressure to stay active on social media platforms.
Validation is increasingly coming from likes and views, not real interactions.
Comparison has become a constant.
Another change is how people feel.
Online platforms reward quick reactions. Over time, children get used to responding instantly instead of thinking deeply. This starts affecting how they deal with conflict, relationships, and self-expression in real life.
In many ways, social media is not just changing behaviour.
It is changing how children experience life.
Impact on education and real-life interactionThe effects of this shift are now apparent in both classrooms and homes.
Teachers have reported a decrease in both attention spans and patience.
While students can talk to each other in person, they often choose to text instead.
But real-world interaction teaches something deeper — empathy, listening, understanding tone, and human connection.
These are not skills that grow strongly through screens.
Technology is not the problem.
Imbalance is.
Regulation versus realityGovernments across the world are now recognising this issue. Many are discussing age restrictions, safety frameworks, and platform accountability.
But there is a challenge.
As even teenagers admit, restrictions can be bypassed. Technology moves faster than regulation.
So while policy is important, it cannot be the only solution.
From understanding the policy to putting it into action The court has also looked into this case.
A case asking for limits on the use of social media by kids younger than sixteen was heard by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in 2025.
It was obvious why.
Social media is not objective. It actively shapes cognitive patterns, emotional responses, and behaviour. A child's perception of the world and themselves can be influenced by early experience.
The Supreme Court acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and stated that this is a policy matter, directing that the government must take a considered decision.
This marked an important shift.
It recognised that this is not just a personal concern.
It is a societal and policy-level responsibility.
At the core of this effort is a simple belief: children must be allowed to grow as humans before they are shaped by algorithms.
A joint obligationThis is an issue that cannot be resolved by a single group.
Tech companies need to think again about engagement-driven processes.
The government needs to make policies that are strong and well-thought-out.
Schools need to teach kids about safety and rules on the internet.
Parents need to set limits for every day.
Because this is not about stopping technology.
It is about protecting childhood.
We are still in the process of comprehending the impact of digital environments on the brain's development.
However, one thing is already evident.
We are at risk of rearing a generation whose thoughts, attention, and sense of self are more influenced by algorithms than by genuine human experiences if we disregard this issue at this time.
That direction can be altered by acting with awareness.
We can protect something far more important than technology.
We can protect childhood.
Because in the end, this is not just a technology debate.
It is a human responsibility.
Dr.Rekha Chaudhari, Founder- World Digital Detox Day
