A study on internet use reports emotional and physical impact on children

The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is the apex body of the Government of India for research in the social sciences and humanities. ICSSR was established in 1969 and operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. File. (Photo: www.council.science)

A study on internet use among school children supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) recommends that digital literacy among children and parents should be encouraged through active support from schools.

Anxiety, sleep disturbances, and mood swings in children are the most common health consequences, suggesting that Internet use affects children emotionally and physically. Based on these findings, the study recommended a “multi-stakeholder collaborative framework” to support children digitally in the age of new technologies.

A report based on a study titled “Empowering Children in the Digital Age: An Analysis of Experiences and Vulnerabilities in the Viksit Bharat Vision and Sustainable Development Goals” found that 97.6% of children access the Internet from home, with smartphones as the primary device.

“Most children spend 4.5 hours a day using the Internet. Their primary purpose of using the Internet is to study, followed by playing online games, watching videos and chatting with friends,” said Moina Khan, faculty at Bennet University in Uttar Pradesh, who conducted the study for ICSSR.

In a study conducted in 2025, Ms. Khan interviewed more than 2,000 children in the age group of 9-14 studying in schools in Delhi and about 500 parents. “Children, schools and parents have reported various benefits of digital platforms, including social media for children, from information, skills development and community building to collaborative learning and creative expression. Children are confident in using digital spaces showing high technical or functional skills. But what they lack are critical skills,” Ms Khan said.

She pointed out that adults at home think that children are tech-savvy and better than them. “But we live in a bubble, thinking they know everything. What they don’t understand is systematic power manipulation and persuasion, algorithmic influence and exploitation. Most children, regardless of their perceived digital skills, reported feeling lonely when they didn’t use the Internet for a long time, experiencing anger when they didn’t find what they wanted on the Internet, and trying to stop using the Internet, even trying to stop using the Internet.”

According to the study, 47% of children reported talking to strangers in the past six months, while many played games online with strangers. “Talking to strangers online, playing games with them and watching content inappropriate for their age were more common in the 12-13 age group. Few of them reported experiencing cyberbullying and impersonation. Most children said they did not report unpleasant experiences to parents or teachers. However, many of them considered parents as the preferred option for reporting such incidents,” the report added.

The report also points to differences in internet use based on gender, with boys generally using the internet more than girls. “Boys’ greater social freedom often leads to less controlled internet use, increasing their exposure to harmful content and online risks. Girls’ limited access could create another threat by limiting their digital literacy and self-defense skills,” it said.

Published – 18 Oct 2026 22:19 IST