Living in digital darkness

We are living in the 21st century - an era of unprecedented technological advancement and digital transformation, where AI, social media and smartphones have revolutionised the way we communicate, learn, work and access information.

From the Industrial Revolution to today's digital revolution, technology has dramatically improved living standards. It has transformed industries, simplified everyday tasks, increased productivity and connected billions of people across the globe. Today, digital tools are indispensable in education, healthcare, business, governance and scientific research. From daily wage labourers using mobile banking to professionals working remotely, technology has become an integral part of modern life.

The world has digitally connected, but has created a wide disconnect in human relationships. People are connected on social media just for the sake of appearances, and they are unaware of their neighbours. Ironically, they have hundreds of friends on social media platforms but hardly know about them. They consume hours scrolling through reels and videos, wasting valuable time and energy. When it is time to spend with family members or friends, they often make excuses, saying that they are too busy.

Not long ago, families and friends regularly gathered to share meals, visit one another, and spend quality time together. Nowadays, it is increasingly common to see people sitting in the same room absorbed in their smartphones. Conversations are interrupted by endless scrolling through social media platforms. Although we are constantly "connected", genuine human interaction is steadily declining.

An estimated 35 million children in Pakistan are now online, many of them without adequate supervision. Pakistani children spend almost 43% of their screen time on YouTube, followed by 16% on WhatsApp and nearly 9% on Instagram. At the same time, internet-based crimes against children are rising rapidly. Parents are frequently unaware of the type of content their children consume online. Many children create accounts on Instagram and TikTok and upload content without any parental oversight or verification of whether it is appropriate, informative or beneficial.

Many young people imitate online influencers in pursuit of likes, followers and instant fame, often at the expense of their cultural values, personal dignity, and even their safety. Privacy has also become increasingly vulnerable as users routinely share personal information without fully understanding the consequences. According to PEMRA, Pakistanis spent over $689 million on digital media in 2024, including $158 million on video games. In 2025, expenditure on video-on-demand services reached $392 million, with a substantial share reportedly spent on adult content.

Since children have highly impressionable minds, prolonged exposure to low-quality or inappropriate content can negatively influence their behaviour, language, values and personality. Furthermore, screen time is increasingly replacing the time they would otherwise spend interacting with parents, siblings and friends.

Aristotle famously said, "Man is by nature a social animal." The problem is not merely psychological; it is also sociological. Human beings learn brotherhood, cooperation, communication and emotional intelligence through face-to-face interaction.

This does not mean that technology itself is the problem. Digital connectivity has brought remarkable progress that should be embraced as a means of survival.

Challenge lies in the effective implementation of the Social Media (Age Restriction for Users) Act. Countries such as the UK, Australia and New Zealand have imposed restrictions on social media access for children under the age of 16. Pakistan has also adopted a similar approach, but it requires stronger enforcement and a comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure its effectiveness. Schools should teach digital citizenship alongside digital literacy, enabling students to use technology responsibly, safely and ethically.