Between play and pixels: children growing up in modern times

A digital transformation has been introduced to the quiet bustling homes everywhere, replacing the sounds of children playing on the streets. If you visit a typical household today, it is likely to observe a child bent over a phone with headphones in, completely lost in a digital world. At times, they are watching videos, at times, gaming, or just scrolling endlessly or you'll find a toddler captivated by a rhythmic Coco melon rhyme while their older sibling battles in a virtual arena on a smartphone.

Millennials spent their childhood playing outside until evening, enjoying games like football, cricket and hide-and-seek. They climbed walls, rode bikes and came home sweaty and exhausted. Their boredom forced them to create games, use imagination and converse with others. The crisis of screen addiction globally is unique and culturally specific, even though the world is grappling with technology. We created a supportive environment for it.

The smartphone is becoming the 'third parent' in many homes, and with the decline of the joint family system now-a-days, the traditional support network of grandparents, aunts and cousins that once shared the burden of childcare has become weaker.

Screen time has changed drastically over the years. Earlier, children had very limited exposure. Mostly, they had very limited exposure to television for a short time each day, often with family. The use of smartphones, tablets and constant internet access has resulted in an increase in screen time. Children are often exposed to screens for extended periods, often alone instead of with their elders or supervisors. While technology can aid in learning and staying connected, too much screen time can impact health, sleep and behaviour. Previously children spent their time playing outdoors, reading or interacting with others but now the eradication of public space is a key reason for screen addiction that is yet to be fully understood.

Playing outside has become a high-risk activity for many parents due to rising street crime and fears of kidnapping. Due to the normalisation of extreme heatwaves, outdoor play is often physically impossible for six months of the year, as per climate reality. If there is no safe or comfortable place in the physical world, the digital world, which has infinite 'green' landscapes like Minecraft or Roblox, becomes the sole accessible playground unfortunately.

Universally, there's a cultural inclination towards 'getting ahead'. Numerous parents have introduced tablets at an early stage, believing they would provide their children with a 'digital dominance'. We misinterpreted a toddler's ability to swipe and unlock a phone as evidence of their intelligence, rather than an automatic behaviour shaped by repeated dopamine rewards from digital media.

The damage had already been done when we realised that the 'tech-savvy' was the Screen Dependency Disorder (SDD). Research does show that excessive screen or gadget use (around 3–4 hours or more daily) is associated with negative effects on children's mental health like increased anxiety or mood problems, sleep disturbances, reduced attention-span and social activity.

A correlation between high screen time and obesity has been found in recent studies. Instead of learning the richness of their native languages, children are imitating the accents they hear on YouTube. Similarly, less sunlight exposure and almost no physical activities are adding to childhood health problems such as obesity and Vitamin D deficiency. Even though they are connected, many teenagers have reported feeling more alone and anxious than previous generations.

We made the mistake of using technology to avoid our children instead of helping them. We gradually lost the warmth of our real communities because of our reliance on the online world. The internet's "global village" replaced social interaction that took place around us, where people talked, shared and grew together.

Telling a child to take their phone away can be tough when the father is scrolling through TikTok and the mother is constantly receiving WhatsApp group notifications. The child follows our actions, not our words!

The aim is not to eliminate technology, which is difficult to do nowadays, but to restore places for kids to grow, play, and connect in a healthier environment. It's vital to allow children to be bored, as it's a place where creativity and homemade play mode can be activated. Using the phone like a medicine: beneficial in small doses, but harmful in excess. If our streets are no longer safe for children, then we must bring play closer to home. Children can enjoy the simple joy of being children once again by freely moving, playing happily and enjoying the small, safe corners of rooftops, courtyards and community spaces.

Our children's childhoods are very important, so let's not substitute the sounds of playing with the silence of scrolling. It's time to examine ourselves and discover what we're lacking.

Beginning on December 10, 2025, Australia has made it illegal for children under 16 to use major social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat. By limiting their exposure to threats like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and too much screen time, this step aims to ensure children's safety making parents more aware and helping families build healthier tech habits, while also supervising their children exposure to harmful online spaces.

Strategies should be taken like elders should begin with simple, straightforward guidelines like avoiding screens at the dining table or before bedtime and adhere to them nicely instead of making it feel like a punishment, explain it in a calm way so children understand it's for their betterment. Involve them in the things they love to do, such as reading, swimming, playing outdoors, creating artwork or interacting with friends. They will naturally miss screens less when they feel involved and connected, and they will set an example for others to follow. When they see you using mobile devices less, kids are more likely to imitate their parents. Maintain an honest and caring dialogue that makes them sense guided as opposed to ruled.