Dr Margoob Warns of Digital Addiction Crisis in Kashmir, Calls for Urgent Action
Srinagar: Dr Mustaq A Margoob, an eminent psychiatrist, has raised alarm over the growing crisis of digital addiction among children in Kashmir, describing it as a pandemic that is already reshaping the mental health landscape of the region.
Speaking at an interaction on “Digital Addiction: An Invisible Pandemic,” organised by the Amar Singh Club in Srinagar, he warned that excessive use of digital devices was leading to severe behavioural and psychological disorders among children, including virtual autism—an affliction he called both preventable and reversible.
Dr Margoob highlighted that mental health experts in Kashmir were witnessing an increasing number of cases where parents were struggling to manage their children’s hyperactive behaviour, abnormal anger, and emotional instability. He noted that many of these children, who otherwise displayed heightened aggression, appeared visibly calmer when given a mobile device, a clear sign of digital dependency. He stressed that the first six years of life were crucial in shaping a child’s personality and that natural stressors like peer competition and outdoor activities played a vital role in their cognitive and emotional development. However, digital devices had introduced an unnatural form of stress that was impairing emotional intelligence and social connectivity among children.
He equated the effect of digital device use on the brain to “driving a 4×4 vehicle through mental circuits,” stating that it takes two to four hours of screen-free time for brain activity to return to normal. He also warned that using screens two hours before bedtime disrupted natural sleep cycles, leading to fatigue, loss of focus, and a rise in anxiety and depression. Dr Margoob asserted that, despite a few cases of digital success stories, the overall trend showed a worrying decline in children’s emotional intelligence, making them increasingly self-centred and detached from real-life social interactions.
“The surging waters of the digital river have already begun submerging our society by breaching into our minds and homes,” he said, cautioning that unless immediate action was taken, the crisis would spiral out of control. He urged families, communities, and the state to respond urgently and comprehensively. He also lamented that while psychiatric services in Kashmir had expanded since the 1990s, an estimated 90 per cent of patients with psychiatric disorders remained untreated, creating a vacuum that was being exploited by fraudulent healers.
Dr Margoob further noted that the widespread use of digital devices had compromised parental instincts, as many caregivers—already burdened by their own stress and past trauma—struggled to give their children adequate attention. He explained that traditional coping mechanisms, such as extended family structures and strong teacher-student relationships, had weakened over the years, leaving children with fewer emotional anchors. He cited the example of renowned Kashmiri educationist Dr G Q Allaqaband, whose personality was shaped significantly by his teachers—a role that, in today’s digital age, seemed to be eroding.
Emphasising the need for a structured response, Dr Margoob stated that mental health experts were shifting towards positive psychology and community outreach, highlighting that psychiatric care must include both preventive and curative strategies. He called for a collective effort from all sections of society to recognise the gravity of the problem and implement tangible solutions.
