Citing a study, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar told the Lok Sabha that 37.15 percent of children have experienced reduced levels of concentration due to smartphones. The prevalent use of the internet and mobile devices among children amid the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted their memories, according to the government.

Chandrasekhar says, “Meity does not have any specific information on Internet addiction in children but has studied data of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Effects (Physical, Behavioral and Psycho-Social) of using Mobile Phones and other devices with internet accessibility by children.”

“As per the study, 23.80 percent of children use smartphones while they are in bed, before going to sleep which increases with age and 37.15 percent of children, always or frequently, experience reduced levels of concentration due to smartphone use,” Chandrasekar adds.

It reports that, 59.2 percent of children use their smartphones for instant messaging applications and only 10.1percent of children like to use smartphones for online learning and education.

Besides, 37.8 percent of 10-year-old have a Facebook account and 24.3percent of the same age group have an Instagram account. The study collected responses from 5,811 participants, comprising 3,491 children, 1534 parents, and 786 teachers from 60 schools across the country.

In response to a question, Chandrasekhar stated that increase usage of cell phones among children during the pandemic has resulted in internet addiction and its details.

MeitY revealed that7,422 crore digital transactions were conducted in the current fiscal (FY22), as of February 28. This translates to a 33 percent jump from 5,554 crore digital transactions which were clocked for the whole of FY21. In FY19 that number stood at 3,134 crores.