Screen time capped at one hour, no internet access after 7pm, audio-only plans and age-appropriate devices are some of the steps proposed by the Karnataka governmentin its landmark draft digital well-being
policy to regulate how children interact with social media.
The goal of this digital detox policy is reportedly for young children to grow into using these devices more responsibly. The draft policy also mandated that schools and teachers actively teach digital behaviour to the students, monitoring their screen time and flagging any observable impact of excessive use.
The draft policy comes amid mounting concerns over excessive screen exposure among students and how it’s affecting their emotional and physical health.
Prepared by the Department of Health and Family Welfare along with the Karnataka State Mental Health Authority and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, the policy frames screen and mobile addiction not just as a habit issue, but as a public health concern that schools, parents and the state must tackle together.
What The Draft Policy Proposes
- Age-appropriate devices for children, including restricted ‘child plans’ and even audio-only phone options
- Automatic cut-off of mobile internet data usage after 7pm for younger users
- Cap on recreational screen time outside studies, suggested at one hour per day
- Devices designed to evolve with children, with controlled operating system updates as they grow
- Mandatory integration of digital well-being into school curriculum
- Lessons on online safety, privacy, cyberbullying and responsible digital behaviour
- Classroom conversations around mental health impacts like stress, anxiety, irritability and falling academic performance
- Formation of Digital Safety and Wellness Committees in schools, including educators, parents, students and even cybercrime police representatives
- Mandatory sensitisation programmes for teachers, parents and students
- Counselling systems and referral pathways for students showing signs of digital overuse or distress
The draft policy, shared with the media on Monday, has been released for public feedback. In his Budget speech earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had proposed a ban on the use of social media for children under 16.
Officials say the goal of the draft policy is to foster digital well-being, emotional regulation and screen-time awareness in schools. The target group reportedly includes students from Classes 9-12, teachers and parents.
Among the major recommendations, schools would be required to incorporate digital well-being and social media literacy into the curriculum, including lessons on age-appropriate responsible digital behaviour, online safety, privacy, cyberbullying and balanced screen use.
According to the draft policy, schools would be expected to frame their own digital use policies, including protocols to address cyberbullying, setting age-based limits on recreational screen time — capped at one hour per day outside academic use — and counselling mechanisms for students, along with defining the role of teachers in moderating digital exposure.
It also calls for developing age-appropriate phones for children and OS update for device as they grow old. It further suggested framing a special ‘child plan’ for phones with audio-only phones, and stopping data use by 7pm.
