Karnataka Drafts Digital Use Policy for Students

The Karnataka Health Department has unveiled a draft policy aimed at fostering responsible digital engagement among students. This initiative, developed in collaboration with NIMHANS and other stakeholders, seeks public input on objections and suggestions until April 15, 2026. The policy addresses growing worries about the excessive and potentially harmful use of digital devices by schoolchildren.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao noted the increasing awareness of mobile phones' negative impacts, including anxiety, cyberbullying, sleep issues, and social isolation. The draft policy emphasizes the need for training parents and teachers to help reduce children's overreliance on digital technology.

Recognizing that nearly one in four adolescents exhibits signs of problematic internet use, the draft links excessive screen time to mental health challenges, academic decline, and social detachment. The framework champions digital well-being, emotional resilience, and responsible technology adoption. It advocates for integrating digital literacy, mental health awareness, and cyber safety into the school curriculum, with a focus on early identification and intervention.

Under the proposed policy, schools will be mandated to establish their own digital use guidelines. These will include setting a recommended maximum of one hour of recreational screen time per day, addressing cyber misconduct, and ensuring access to counseling services. Teachers will receive training to detect early indicators of digital distress and guide students to appropriate support.

Parents are identified as crucial partners, urged to enforce screen-time rules, create device-free zones at home, and model responsible digital behavior. Schools are expected to enhance their collaboration with families to support the policy's objectives.