Surge in social media addiction in Ahmedabad: Over 2,000 seek medical help in four years

On World Social Media Day, growing concerns about the mental health impact of excessive online engagement are coming into focus. In Ahmedabad, over 2,000 people are estimated to have sought treatment for social media and digital addiction over the past four years, with a steep increase in cases reported at public hospitals.

The Government Hospital for Mental Health (HMH) in Ahmedabad saw 116 patients at its Digital Detox Centre in 2021–22. By 2024–25, that number had grown more than fourfold, reaching 491. Mental health experts suggest that including data from private hospitals would push the total number of cases well past 2,000.

Teenagers and young adults most affected

According to HMH superintendent Dr Ajay Chauhan, 95% of those seeking treatment fall in the 15–30 age group. “Most patients coming in due to mobile addiction show symptoms like constant irritability, anger, and restlessness,” he said. Many feel anxious if unable to access social media at regular intervals.

This emotional dependence often results in conflict at home. Some teenagers and young adults become aggressive toward parents if asked to reduce screen time or stop using certain apps.

What a typical case looks like

Clinicians are seeing a range of symptoms and behavioural shifts in younger patients. These include anxiety, poor sleep, loss of concentration, mood swings, and reduced academic performance. In some cases, patients have had to be hospitalised.

Examples from clinical records include:

Case 1: A 12-year-old played video games for 6–8 hours daily, refused to complete homework, showed signs of withdrawal, and experienced physical symptoms such as eye strain and headaches.

Case 2: A 15-year-old became anxious when offline, experienced self-esteem issues when social media posts received few likes, and showed signs of digital dependency.

Case 3: A 10-year-old could not sleep without mobile or TV use at night. The child faced concentration issues and frequent mood swings due to sleep deprivation.

Case 4: A 13-year-old spent long hours on social media, avoided social interaction, and remained isolated in a room.

Case 5: A 16-year-old regularly fought with his parents over phone use, showed signs of sleep deprivation, and was falling behind in school.

Digital culture and mental health: A wider conversation

Globally, concerns are rising about how algorithm-driven content shapes attention spans, sleep cycles, and emotional well-being—especially among adolescents. Psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation points to the link between screen time and increased rates of anxiety and depression in teenagers.

Recent cultural works, including international series like Adolescence, have explored how digital spaces can quietly reshape behaviour in vulnerable age groups. Though fictional, such portrayals reflect real-world anxieties about how easily online engagement can blur into emotional dependency and social withdrawal. While much of the existing commentary has focused on Western contexts, these concerns increasingly resonate in India as well. 

Mental health professionals stress the need for early intervention, balanced screen use, and stronger digital literacy among both children and their caregivers. Open dialogue at home, timely clinical help, and sensitivity to changing online behaviours are key to addressing what experts call a growing public health issue.