Kathmandu, July 4
In homes, classrooms, and even quiet or crowded places like parks and restaurants, children can be seen with their eyes fixed on screens. What may seem like a harmless distraction has quietly grown into a serious concern: phone addiction among children, especially those under 13.
"Traditionally, addiction referred to substances like alcohol and drugs," Dr. Pawan Sharma, a consultant psychiatrist at Patan Hospital told THT. "However, behavioral addictions, such as mobile phone addiction, share similar traits, including a rewarding experience, loss of control, and negative consequences. Phone addiction can start as early as age 2-3, often when parents use screens to calm children. By ages 8-10, many spend hours daily on screens, affecting their health, learning, and behavior."
While smartphones have become essential tools for communication and education, their excessive and unsupervised use can be damaging, particularly to young children whose brains and emotional understanding are still developing. In Nepal, like in any other place of the world, this problem is rapidly growing.
With increasing access to affordable smartphones and mobile data, many parents hand devices to children as a way to keep them occupied during meals, travel, or while doing household chores. "If I don't give them a phone, they go out and play unsupervised," said Sarita Rai, a mother of 2 children, aged 8 and 11. "So sometimes, even when I know it is not the best thing, I give them phones."
"Excessive screen time can lead to a range of effects in children," said Dr. Sharma. "This includes poor attention in class, disrupted sleep, irritability, weight gain, social withdrawal, eye strain, and unhealthy eating habits." Over time, the consequences can deepen. "Delayed language and social development, academic struggles, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, weak parent-child bonds, and even a higher risk of other addictions are some of the longer term effects. It can also impact physical health, sleep quality, relationships, and emotional awareness," Dr. Sharma added.
According to a study on smartphone overuse and mental health in children and adolescents published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, excessive phone use is linked to increased anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep patterns in young users. "We regularly see 2–3 cases a day where phone addiction is the root cause of mental health issues," said Dr. Sharma. "One recent case involved a 14-year-old boy who played mobile games for 12–14 hours daily, stopped attending school, became violent when the internet was cut, and had disturbed sleep. He was admitted to Patan Hospital, received psychotherapy and medication, and improved with treatment. Controlled phone use but not total restriction was emphasized, and he has been doing well in follow-up," he explained.
Studies find that children with addictive phone or social media use were 2–3 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors compared to their peers. "Until and unless we take the phone, they don't even put it away for a second," said the mother of two, Rai.
Government officials acknowledge the rising concern but admit that there is still no unified national policy to regulate screen time for children. While some schools have begun offering awareness programs and counselling, implementation remains inconsistent, especially in rural areas.
Tackling this issue will need more than rules and regulation. Parental modeling is crucial. When children see adults constantly on their phones, it becomes normalised. The WHO advises no screen time for children under 2 (except video calls), and less than 1 hour daily for ages 2–4, with quality content and supervision. For children 5 and up, screen use should be balanced with physical activity, good sleep, and offline play, avoiding screens during meals, before bed, or to calm them.
"Children need real connection, not just Wi-Fi," said Dr. Sharma. "Encourage real play like outdoor games, reading, or music. Never use phones as babysitters. Talk to your child to understand their screen use; it may reflect boredom or stress. Seek professional help if it is out of control."
Phone addiction is not just a personal issue, it's a growing public health concern. Without collective awareness and action, Nepal risks raising a generation more connected to their screens than the world around them. "The developing brain is highly affected by excessive screen use, which can alter thinking, behavior, mood, and self-image. It disrupts the brain's reward system, increases the need for instant gratification, and weakens impulse control. The longer it's delayed, the harder it is to reverse. This is why urgent action is needed," said Dr. Sharma.
