Phone Addiction Becoming a Serious Problem for Nepali Children

 Kathmandu, July 4 — In homes, classrooms, restaurants, and parks, it's becoming more common to see young children glued to screens. What might seem like harmless entertainment is turning into a serious issue: phone addiction, especially among kids under 13.

“Addiction isn’t just about drugs or alcohol anymore,” said Dr. Pawan Sharma, a psychiatrist at Patan Hospital. “Phone addiction is real. It starts with a reward — like games or videos — but can quickly lead to loss of control and negative effects.” According to him, children as young as 2 or 3 are getting hooked, often because parents use screens to calm them. By age 8 or 10, many kids are spending hours on phones daily — and it's affecting their health, behavior, and ability to learn.

Smartphones have become essential tools for learning and staying in touch, but when children use them too much without supervision, the results can be harmful. In Nepal, this trend is growing fast. With cheap smartphones and affordable mobile data, more parents are handing over phones just to keep kids busy — during meals, travel, or while managing chores.

“If I don’t give them the phone, they go out and play unsupervised,” said Sarita Rai, mother of two kids aged 8 and 11. “So even though I know it’s not great, sometimes it feels like the only option.”

But the consequences can be serious. Dr. Sharma explains that too much screen time can cause poor attention in school, irritability, sleep problems, weight gain, eye strain, and even social withdrawal. Over time, it may lead to delayed speech, poor academic performance, low self-confidence, anxiety, depression, and weakened bonds with parents.

A study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information supports this, showing links between heavy phone use and mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in kids and teens.

“We see two to three such cases every day,” Dr. Sharma said. He shared one case of a 14-year-old boy who played mobile games for up to 14 hours a day. He quit school, became aggressive when the internet was cut, and couldn’t sleep properly. After treatment at Patan Hospital, including therapy and medication, the boy improved. Doctors focused on helping him use the phone in a controlled way rather than banning it completely.

Studies also show that kids heavily addicted to phones or social media are two to three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than others. “Unless we take the phone away, they won’t even put it down for a second,” said Rai.

While government officials are aware of the problem, there is currently no national policy to manage children’s screen time. Some schools have started awareness and counseling programs, but the efforts are scattered and especially lacking in rural areas.

Experts agree that rules alone won’t fix the problem. Parents need to lead by example. When kids see adults constantly on their phones, they assume it's normal. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends no screen time at all for kids under 2 (except for video calls) and no more than an hour a day for those aged 2–4 — with high-quality content and adult supervision. For children 5 and older, screen use should be balanced with physical activity, healthy sleep, and offline play. Screens should be avoided during meals, before bedtime, and as a way to calm children.

“Children need real human connection, not just internet access,” said Dr. Sharma. “Encourage outdoor play, reading, and music. Don’t use phones as babysitters. Talk to your child to understand what’s behind their screen use — it might be boredom or stress. If things get out of hand, don’t hesitate to seek help.”

Phone addiction isn’t just a family issue — it’s a growing public health challenge. Without collective action, Nepal could see a generation growing up more attached to screens than to the world around them. “Excessive screen use affects how the brain develops,” warned Dr. Sharma. “It changes how kids think, feel, and behave. The longer it continues, the harder it is to fix. That’s why we need to act now.”