Spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has issued a strong warning about the rising trend of screen addiction among children, stating that excessive digital exposure is stunting their creativity and damaging their mental and physical health.
Speaking to journalist Sneha Mordani, Sri Sri highlighted how prolonged screen time can harm the developing nervous system in young children. “Research shows that constant screen staring — without blinking — affects the parasympathetic nervous system and shrinks the part of the brain linked to creativity,” he said.
With children spending more hours than ever on phones, tablets, and computers, health experts and studies echo his concern. Excessive screen time is associated with:
- Sleep disturbances
- Shortened attention spans
- Obesity
- Academic decline
- Increased irritability and anxiety
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time (except video chatting) for children under 18 months, and just one hour daily of high-quality content for those aged 2–5 — ideally with a parent co-viewing.
A JAMA Pediatrics study found that toddlers exposed to screens at age 1 showed developmental delays in communication and problem-solving by age 2 and 4.
“It’s ignorance when parents continue allowing it despite knowing the risks,” said Sri Sri. He urged caregivers to limit screen time and nurture offline creativity and learning, promoting mindful tech use from an early age.
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