Many of us believe we are socially active simply because we interact online. During the pandemic, screens became central to everything like education, entertainment, and communication. Even after campuses reopened, the habit of staying indoors continued. Online classes ended, but screen time did not. Social media, gaming, and endless scrolling quietly occupied our evenings. Once, classrooms and lunch breaks were filled with games, conversations, and laughter. Today, we sit silently, eyes fixed on glowing screens. Hostel rooms remain quiet, broken only by the light of laptops and mobile phones. Family dinners that were once moments of joy and togetherness have turned into silent meals, with each of us scrolling alone in our corners. Gradually, we stopped going out, avoided conversations, and began feeling constant fatigue and irritation. Late-night screen usage disrupted our sleep, increased anxiety, and distanced us from friends. We appeared connected to the world online, yet felt deeply lonely in real life. Physical activity declined, emotional sensitivity increased, and meaningful human interaction slowly faded away. At this juncture, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) launches the campaign Screen Time to Activity Time.
From screen dependency to mental distress
In recent decades, rapid technological advancement has significantly increased young people’s engagement with screen-based technologies. At the same time, there has been a parallel reduction in time spent interacting with peers, families, and society at large. This combination of extensive screen use and limited social interaction has raised serious concerns regarding its impact on mental health and overall well-being. Globally, rates of mental health concerns among children and young people are rising at an alarming pace. Conditions such as depression and anxiety have emerged as major contributors to reduced quality of life in these age groups.
Evidence suggests that experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety during childhood or youth increases the likelihood of mental health challenges later in life. Thus, poor mental health in the early years can have long-term consequences, affecting well-being and happiness. With technological developments making electronic devices easily accessible and deeply integrated into daily life, concerns about the psychological effects of prolonged screen time have intensified, particularly for children and young people. Studies conducted a decade ago in the United States revealed that children aged 8 to 18 years spent an average of 7.5 hours per day on screens, with the highest usage observed among 11- to 14-year-old adolescents, reaching nearly 9 hours daily. This level of screen exposure far exceeds the recommended recreational screen time guideline of two hours or less per day. The situation in India is equally concerning. According to various studies, children under the age of five spend an average of 2.22 hours per day in front of screens, surpassing recommended limits at a very early stage of development. Among adolescents and young people, screen time often extends to six, eight, or even nine hours per day, raising serious questions about its impact on physical health, cognitive development, and emotional stability.
Screen Time to Activity Time: A timely initiative
In the present digital age, excessive engagement with screen-based technologies has resulted in a noticeable decline in students’ interaction with society and their immediate surroundings. A growing dependence on digital devices has weakened essential human connections, including: Human to Human, Human to Family, Human to Society, Human to Nature, Human to Playground, Human to Service, Human to Agriculture Field, and many other connections which are considered as the elixir of human life. Gradually, almost every form of activity and interaction has been confined to fingertips. This digital confinement has limited physical movement, reduced social bonding, and diminished real-life experiences. As a result, students face increased risks to their physical health, mental well-being, emotional balance, and sense of social responsibility.
The campaign Screen Time to Activity Time aims to bring students out of digital overdependence and reconnect them with meaningful activities. It encourages young people to engage in sports, physical exercise, social service, nature-based activities, cultural programs, and direct human interaction through the forums of ABVP like Students for Seva (SFS), Students for Development (SFD), Khelo Bharat, Rashtriya Kala Manch (RKM), and so on. Through this initiative, ABVP is setting the stage for the student community to make campuses live and vibrant with real-time activities. ABVP holds confidence in the potential and capacity of students. Young people are not lacking in ability or purpose; rather, their talents and energies remain underutilized in an era increasingly dominated by passive screen engagement. The shift from excessive screen time to meaningful activity time is not merely a lifestyle adjustment but a necessary investment in the intellectual, physical, and emotional development of the next generation. It is the belief that one day the student community will rise and say, “During an ABVP campus activity under the Screen Time to Activity Time campaign, I joined a morning sports session with hesitation that soon turned into joy. Playing football after years, laughing with peers, and spending time outdoors away from screens brought calm and happiness. Through community service cleaning public spaces, teaching children, and helping the needy, I learned the true meaning of empathy, patience, and understanding.”
Where screens pause and minds unite
Phones will stay in pockets, and the minds will work together. Conversations will flow naturally. Students will experience the joy of service and teamwork. This campaign will highlight a simple truth: real connection is built through shared effort, not shared screens. This initiative does not oppose technology but promotes its responsible use. By reducing unnecessary screen time and increasing participation in constructive activities, ABVP always envisions a balanced, active, and socially connected student community. With this campaign, we have an opportunity to create a generation of students who are not only more connected to the natural world, but are also the Viksit Bharat stewards of our future needs. Balancing screen time with activity time is an investment in student well-being, our collective future, and a happier India.
