Bengaluru, March 23 The Karnataka government has proposed a draft policy for responsible digital use among students, amid growing concerns about excessive screen time, technology addiction, and cyber risks, emphasizing the need for schools to incorporate digital wellness into the curriculum for holistic development.
The draft policy, prepared by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the Karnataka State Mental Health Authority (KSMHA), in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), proposes a multi-pronged approach targeting students, teachers, and parents.
This draft policy, shared with the media on Monday, is being released for public feedback and differs from the one announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his budget speech, which proposed a ban on the use of social media for those under the age of 16.
Officials said the goal of the draft policy is to promote digital well-being, emotional regulation, and screen-time awareness in schools. The target group includes students in grades 9-12, teachers, and parents.
The draft policy outlines three key directives: issuing state guidelines to schools, structured teacher training programs for the healthy use of technology, and strengthening communication with parents about responsible technology use.
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 behavior, online safety, privacy, cyberbullying, and balanced screen use.
According to the draft policy, schools would be expected to develop 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 of academic use), and providing counselling for students, along with defining the role of teachers in moderating digital exposure.
It also proposes the formation of Digital Safety and Wellness Committees in every school, comprising school heads, counsellors, teachers, parents, student representatives, and cybercrime police officials, to monitor implementation and address digital risks.
It also calls for developing age-appropriate phones and OS updates for children as they grow older, as well as proposing a special "child plan" for phones with audio-only functionality and stopping data usage by 7 pm.
Emphasis has also been placed on encouraging schools to adopt traditional methods of communication instead of direct WhatsApp contact with students, and implementing a "diary system" for communication.
The draft policy also recommends that schools train teachers and staff to identify early mental health red flags among students, and set up mechanisms to refer such students to mental health professionals through school counsellors, as well as creating guidelines for the use of AI in homework and assignments, including checks for plagiarism.
The draft policy highlights that mental health issues among children have risen sharply in recent years, with excessive technology time and unregulated technology use emerging as key contributors.
Citing Indian studies indicating that nearly 25 per cent of adolescents show signs of internet addiction, with many reporting increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, and attention problems, it says there is now an urgent need for teacher and parent training programs focused on early identification of digital overuse and related mental health concerns, as well as the promotion of healthy, balanced technology habits in both children and adults.
The policy also focuses on monitoring and reporting mechanisms, requiring schools to maintain confidential records of cyberbullying or digital harm cases and ensure timely intervention.
It also emphasizes the role of parents in managing children's screen use, suggesting structured screen-time routines, device-free family time, and increased offline engagement, as well as facilitating more peer interactions and conversations to reduce dependency on digital devices.
The draft policy is based on consultations held in October 2025 involving Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, government officials, mental health experts, educators, parents, and other stakeholders.
