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• Karnataka Government’s Initiative to Control Overuse of Mobile Phones; New rules proposed for students
• Ban on social media for children under 16? Karnataka Govt draft under discussion
• Govt alert as screen time increases; Digital detox policy announced for students

In the wake of growing concern over screen overuse and its impact on the minds of the youth, the Karnataka government has released a draft policy on digital usage for students. The draft comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced in the state budget a ban on the use of social media by children below the age of 16. The draft has been prepared by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with Karnataka State Mental Health Authority (KSMHA), Department of Education and National Institute of Mental Health and Brain Sciences (NIMHANS).

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It has a special emphasis on digital detox. The policy comes at a time when studies in India show that around 25% of teenagers show signs of internet addiction. This leads to increased anxiety, sleep disorders and difficulty concentrating. According to experts, uncontrolled technology use is a major cause of decline in mental health of school students. Against this backdrop, the strategy aims to raise awareness about digital wellness, emotional balance and screen time. This policy is aimed at a large group of students, teachers and parents of classes 9-10, 11-12. (Photo Courtesy – Pinterest)

Emphasis on establishing Digital Wellness Committees

The strategy emphasizes increasing digital awareness, developing cooperative support systems and early detection of problematic use. Schools will be mandated to set up Digital Wellness Committees for implementation. These committees will identify early signs of technology addiction among students and provide counseling as needed.

Children will be made aware about online exploitation, cyber fraud. Each school will have to develop separate guidelines for controlling cyberbullying and digital abuse. Also, it will explain how teachers should control students’ digital usage. Notably, it is recommended that screen time should not exceed one hour per day for entertainment other than educational reasons.

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Special training for teachers

The role of teachers and parents is given special importance in this policy. Teachers will be trained to recognize and control excessive use of digital tools. Parents will be given guidelines for setting regular routines, limiting screen time and diverting children to offline activities. Guidelines for children and parents will be issued.