Narayana Educational Institutions releases its fourth episode of Guidecast

Titled “Digital Dependency and Addiction",the episode sheds light on the growing issue of digital dependency among children and its profound impact on their mental and emotional well-being.

Hyderabad: Narayana Educational Institutions have released the fourth episode of their podcast series, Guidecast by Narayana, titled “Digital Dependency and Addiction.”

The episode sheds light on the growing issue of digital dependency among children and its profound impact on their mental and emotional well-being. The podcast episode draws attention to the alarming rise in digital device usage among children.

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A 2022 survey revealed that 27 per cent of children aged 9-13 have access to smartphones, spending an average of 3.4 hours online daily. Even more concerning, 87 per cent of children aged 12-15 and 80 per cent of those aged 6-11 use smartphones regularly.

These statistics underscore the increasing integration of technology into young lives, prompting urgent discussions on its benefits and drawbacks, a press release said.

Digital tools, when utilised wisely, can indeed be beneficial. They provide access to vast information, networking opportunities, and educational resources. However, the episode also highlights the darker side of excessive digital consumption, it said, adding that prolonged screen time can lead to digital addiction, disrupting children’s social interactions, attention spans, and emotional intelligence.