Opinion: Online Games as ‘Silent Killers’ Hijacking Children’s Minds—India Must Set Minimum Age Limits Like Australia

India needs to urgently recognize the rising screen time among children as a serious warning signal. According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, Indian children are spending twice the safe limit of time on screens. While India enjoys some of the cheapest internet data in the world, this convenience is turning into a hidden danger that requires immediate attention.

A tragic incident in Ghaziabad recently highlighted the gravity of the situation: three minor sisters jumped from the ninth floor of a building, reportedly driven by addiction to task-based online games. Today, instead of toys, we are putting smartphones in children’s hands—devices that are silently harming them. Social media and online games have become ‘silent killers’, hijacking young minds and instilling self-hate. While countries worldwide are imposing age restrictions on digital platforms, India must act without delay.

Digital Threats Are Not New
The Ghaziabad tragedy is not an isolated incident. Task-based challenges like the 2017 Blue Whale Challenge, Momo Challenge, and Pink Whale previously drove children toward self-harm. Modern games like PUBG, Free Fire, and other task-oriented apps continue to make children irritable, aggressive, and vulnerable to depression. These games are no longer mere entertainment—they are psychological tools that can manipulate impressionable minds.

Rising Screen Time: A Red Alert
The Economic Survey 2025-26 indicates that children are exceeding safe screen limits, a consequence of unlimited access to cheap data. Reels, shorts, and virtual characters are already shortening attention spans. The Ghaziabad incident underscores that children are becoming emotionally attached to virtual worlds. To prevent further tragedies, strict regulations are urgently needed.

Global Measures Offer a Blueprint
This is not just India’s problem. Developed countries have begun acknowledging the slow poison of social media for children. Australia recently became the first country to ban social media for minors, while Norway and Denmark have raised the minimum age for access from 13 to 15. European countries and the UK are also considering similar measures. India must follow suit, enforcing strict compliance from tech companies to protect children’s mental well-being.

The time to act is now—before more young lives are lost to the invisible dangers of online gaming and social media.