Sanjay Jha Seeks Statutory Warning on Smartphones for Children in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: JD(U) National Working President and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Tuesday raised a serious concern over the unregulated use of smartphones and social media by children, calling for statutory warnings on smartphone packaging to safeguard their physical and mental well-being. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Jha cited evidence from India and across the world showing alarming trends such as poor motor development, disrupted sleep, early use of foul language, reduced concentration and rising mental health challenges among children and adolescents due to excessive screen exposure. He said courts, medical bodies and global studies have repeatedly underlined the risks of unchecked digital exposure at a young age.

With smartphones now present in most Indian households, he also urged the government to seriously deliberate mandatory user advisories, defining age-appropriate usage and screen-time limits, similar to statutory health warnings on tobacco products. Emphasising that the move is not about restricting access, Sanjay Jha said the objective is to protect young minds from exploitative digital algorithms and ensure healthy development. Calling for timely intervention, he said safeguarding adolescents is essential to build a strong and resilient generation, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.