In a stinging critique of India’s current digital landscape, Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa and ex-CEO of NITI Aayog, has called for immediate age-based restrictions on social media use. His comments follow the release of the Economic Survey 2025-26, which for the first time officially flagged “digital addiction” as a significant threat to India’s long-term productivity and public health.

“100% Agreement”: Kant’s Alarm Call

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, January 31, 2026, Kant stated he was in “100% agreement” with the Survey’s findings. He warned that unchecked social media exposure is effectively “frying kids’ brains,” leading to a sharp decline in concentration and real-world work ethic.

“This is not how we build Viksit Bharat. In fact, we should ban it outright in schools and colleges,” Kant added, emphasizing that a generation “chronically online” would be incapable of the hard work required for national development.

The Economic Survey’s Digital Warning

The Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament on January 29, 2026, dedicated a significant section to the “hidden costs” of India’s internet boom. It highlighted that while digital access fuels learning, compulsive use is creating a mental health crisis.

• Mental Health Impact: High-intensity social media use is linked to rising cases of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders among users aged 15–24.
• Economic Consequences: Digital addiction is leading to lost study hours, reduced workplace productivity, and financial losses due to risky online behaviors like gambling.
• Global Templates: The Survey cited Australia’s recent landmark decision to ban social media for children under 16 as a potential template for Indian policymakers.

Proposed Policy Shifts

To combat these risks, the Survey and Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran have suggested several interventions:

• Age Verification: Making platforms legally responsible for enforcing strict age limits.
• Default Safe Modes: Disabling “auto-play” and “targeted advertising” for younger users.
• Device Management: Encouraging families to adopt “device-free hours” and promoting simpler, non-smart devices for primary school children.
• Network-Level Caps: Introducing ISP-level filters that differentiate between educational and recreational data quotas.

With states like Andhra Pradesh and Goa already exploring local bans, Kant’s endorsement adds significant weight to the growing national movement for a federally mandated digital “age bar.”

Key Highlights:

• High-Profile Support: Amitabh Kant backs the Economic Survey’s call for social media age limits, warning that digital habits are “frying” children’s brains.
• Productivity Crisis: The 2026 Survey identifies “digital addiction” as a barrier to India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 goals, citing lost focus and mental health strain.
• Policy Recommendations: Suggestions include age verification, banning social media in educational institutions, and reducing online-only classes.
• International Inspiration: India is looking at Australia’s under-16 social media ban as a potential roadmap for its own regulatory framework.