Dr. Rangan Chatterjee Urges Raising Social Media Age to 18 to Protect Children’s Mental Health

The Children’s Screen Time Reckoning: Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s Challenge to Tech, Policy, and Society

In an era where digital devices are as ubiquitous as the air we breathe, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s recent public warning about the dangers of excessive screen time for children lands with the force of a long-overdue reckoning. His impassioned appeal, rooted in the harrowing account of a teenage patient grappling with self-harm, has ignited a critical conversation about the intersection of technology, mental health, and corporate responsibility—a conversation that reverberates far beyond the walls of any single clinic.

When Profit Meets Vulnerability: The Business of Attention

At the heart of Dr. Chatterjee’s narrative lies a stark indictment of the profit-driven models that dominate the tech industry. Social media platforms and digital content providers, armed with sophisticated engagement algorithms, have transformed the attention of young users into a lucrative commodity. The consequences are increasingly visible in the consulting rooms of clinicians worldwide: disrupted sleep, heightened anxiety, and a worrying rise in behavioral health issues among adolescents.

Chatterjee’s proposal to set a legal age of 18 for social media use is not merely a provocative soundbite—it is a direct challenge to the business-as-usual mentality that has allowed digital platforms to operate with minimal oversight. By drawing parallels with regulated sectors such as gambling and pornography, he underscores a glaring inconsistency in how society protects its most vulnerable members. Should such regulatory measures take hold, tech companies would be compelled to radically rethink their engagement strategies, prioritizing user welfare over short-term gains.

The Ethical Imperative: Reimagining Societal Priorities

The story of a single patient becomes, in Dr. Chatterjee’s telling, a microcosm of a much broader ethical dilemma. As digital connections proliferate, the risk of technology supplanting genuine human relationships and emotional development becomes ever more acute. The relentless pursuit of engagement metrics may yield impressive quarterly results, but it also raises uncomfortable questions about the true costs of progress.

For business leaders and policymakers, this is a moment to reassess core values. The responsibility of safeguarding the next generation cannot be left solely to parental vigilance or individual restraint. Instead, it calls for a coordinated response—one that includes regulatory frameworks, industry accountability, and investment in preventive public health strategies. The status quo, where the well-being of children is subordinated to the imperatives of growth and innovation, is no longer tenable.

Navigating the Realities of Modern Parenting

Yet, the path forward is fraught with complexity. For many families, particularly those facing economic hardship, screens are not a luxury but a lifeline. They offer respite and engagement in environments where resources are scarce and alternatives limited. Dr. Chatterjee’s call for societal change thus extends beyond exhortations to individual discipline; it is an invitation to confront the structural inequities that underpin screen dependence.

Innovative solutions, such as embedding preventive health coaching within public health systems like the NHS, point toward a more proactive and equitable approach. By addressing both the symptoms and the root causes of excessive screen time, such measures hold the promise of sustainable change. They recognize that true progress lies not in vilifying technology, but in harnessing its potential while safeguarding the conditions necessary for healthy development.

A New Paradigm for the Digital Age

Dr. Chatterjee’s advocacy resonates as both a warning and a blueprint for action. It challenges stakeholders across the spectrum—tech giants, regulators, educators, and families—to rethink their roles in shaping the digital environment. The stakes are nothing less than the future well-being of a generation growing up in the shadow of relentless connectivity.

As this debate gathers momentum, it is becoming clear that the metrics of success in the digital economy must evolve. Beyond innovation and profitability, the health and development of children must become a central measure of societal progress. In answering Dr. Chatterjee’s call, business and policy leaders have an opportunity to redefine what it means to build a truly sustainable and humane digital future.