Study on Internet use flags 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 and human sciences. Founded in 1969, ICSSR operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. File. (Photo: www.council.science)

A study on Internet use among school-going children, supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), recommends that digital literacy must be encouraged for children and parents with active support from schools.

Anxiety, sleep disturbances, and mood changes among children are the most reported health consequences, indicating that Internet use impacts children emotionally and physically. Based on the findings, the study has recommended a “collaborative multi-stakeholder framework” to digitally empower children in the era of emerging technologies.

A report based on the study, titled ‘Empowering Children in the Digital Age: Analysing Experiences and Vulnerabilities within the Framework of Vision Viksit Bharat and Sustainable Development Goals’, has found 97.6% children are accessing the Internet from home, with smartphones as the primary device.