It’s Friday morning, January 30, 2026, and if you’ve been feeling like your phone is essentially an electronic leash, the government just agreed with you. The Economic Survey 2025-26 was tabled in Parliament yesterday, and it didn’t pull any punches—calling social media algorithms “predatory” and basically flagging “Digital Addiction” as a national health crisis.
The thing is, we’re not just talking about “scrolling too much” anymore. Or nothing.
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The “Digital Detox” Survey: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the government is realizing that the “demographic dividend” is currently busy watching 7-second loops. Here’s the ground reality:
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The Predatory Label: Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran was blunt—he says platforms are engineered to target those aged 15 to 24 to maximize screen time at the cost of productivity. Let’s be real, “doomscrolling” is now a documented economic drain. Those too.
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The “Australia Model”: The survey explicitly points to Australia’s under-16 social media ban (which took effect on Dec 10, 2025) as a possible blueprint. The thing is, Andhra Pradesh and Goa are already moving faster than the Centre—both states set up panels this week to study how to implement their own local age-based curbs.
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Beyond Social Media: It’s not just Instagram. The survey is coming for gambling apps, auto-play features, and ultra-processed food (UPF) marketing. There’s even a proposal to ban junk food ads between 6 AM and 11 PM. And here’s the kicker—they’re recommending families switch kids back to “dumb phones” or education-only tablets. Or nothing.
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The Economic Stakes: With 750 million smartphones in the country, India is the biggest market for Meta and YouTube. Meta has already fired back, saying bans just push teens into “dark, unregulated corners of the web.” It’s a classic tech vs. state showdown.
Digital Addiction: The Survey’s Red Flags
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| Platform Type | The “Harm” Identified | Proposed Action |
| Social Media | Anxiety, depression, & “attention theft.” | Age-based access limits (14 or 16). |
| Short Videos | Sleep hygiene & reduced concentration. | Strict auto-play bans for minors. |
| Online Gaming | Aggression & social withdrawal. | Digital Wellness Curriculum in schools. |
| Digital Ads | Targeted “predatory” marketing to kids. | Mandatory parental consent & tracking bans. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The survey isn’t just about laws; it’s asking parents to step up. It suggests “device-free hours” and actually reducing the dependence on online teaching tools that boomed during COVID. The thing is, they want kids back in playgrounds, not “metaverses.” Those too.
One side comment—the Rupee hit 92 against the Dollar today, so while we’re talking about screen time, the cost of those imported smartphones is about to go through the roof anyway. It’s an ongoing situation. Or nothing.
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