Once, the sound of laughter echoed through playgrounds. Now it’s the screen lighting up young faces. Not long ago, the sound of children playing guccha, flying kites, or chasing each other around the galli was a common scene in neighborhoods. From climbing trees to clicking apps, childhood has taken a sharp digital turn—and it’s time we asked: are we gaining innovation or losing innocence?
Today’s youth are more connected than ever, yet increasingly detached from their surroundings. Social media, mobile games, and YouTube have become modern playgrounds. While technology offers incredible opportunities, access to information, global communication, creative platforms; it’s also quietly stealing something precious: presence. We see the signs everywhere. Attention spans are shrinking. Face-to-face conversations feel awkward. The joy of outdoor play is replaced by the dopamine hit of a ‘like’. Even family dinners are interrupted by notification pings. The shift is subtle, yet serious.
According to a 2023 report by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), over 72 percent of Nepal’s population has access to the internet, with a majority of young users spending more than four hours a day online. A study by UNICEF Nepal found that 60 percent of adolescents prefer screen-based entertainment over outdoor games, citing boredom and peer influence as key reasons. Globally, research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that high digital media use is linked to increased rates of anxiety, sleep issues, and reduced attention span in adolescents.
Yet, this is not a call to ban screens. Rather, it’s a call to restore balance. Let’s create spaces where our youth can embrace both tradition and technology. Let’s encourage digital literacy alongside cultural literacy. Families can start small tech-free meals, storytelling nights, or weekend hikes in the hills. Schools can incorporate local games, festivals, and community projects to keep traditions alive in young hearts.
From swings to screens, the world has changed. But maybe, just maybe, we can help our youth find their way back—without taking the screens away, but by giving them something even more powerful: perspective.
Ayushma Budhathoki
St Xavier’s College, Maitighar
