New Delhi: Australia’s decision to bring in a law banning social media use among children under 16 has received mixed response from psychologists in India who maintain that while the decision is well-intended it is difficult to implement. According to Dr Rajesh Sagar, professor of psychiatry at AIIMS Delhi, there is evidence of association of problematic social media usage and increase in psychological symptoms in children and adolescents. In this regard, he said, banning the use of social media among children is a welcome step.
But, Dr Sagar added, it will be difficult to implement the complete ban. “It is important to understand the positive and negative effects of social media and technology use. Hence, there is a need for promotion of healthy use,” the AIIMS professor explained.
Recently, the American Psychological Association (APA) also issued a health advisory on social media use in adolescence which stated that excess or ‘problematic social media use’ can impair the ability to engage in daily roles and routines among adolescents. It can also present risk for more serious psychological harms over time, the APA advisory said. Dr Pramit Rastogi, child and adolescent psychiatrist at STEPS Center for Mental Health said the ban proposal captures the reality that children whose minds are not developed enough to have access to, and to regulate screen time are being given these devices without the necessary checks and balances in place.
“Having said that, this will .
