By Vishal Kumar Singh
New Delhi: India is witnessing a disturbing rise in autism-like symptoms among children aged 2 to 9 not due to genetics, but linked to excessive screen exposure. Neurologists have termed this emerging condition “virtual autism“, warning that overuse of digital devices is rewiring young brains and fueling a hidden epidemic.
Leading experts are now calling for urgent national action and greater public awareness to combat this growing crisis, a call that gains even more urgency as the world marks World Brain Day 2025.
“We’re seeing a wave of screen-induced behavioral disorders almost like a second pandemic,” says Dr. Shobha N, Consultant Neurologist & Stroke Physician at Manipal Hospital, Malleshwaram. “The red flags are clear: shortened attention spans, tantrums, lack of social skills, and emotional dysregulation.”
A Tamil Nadu-based study revealed that 73 per cent of children under five far exceed the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended screen time of one hour daily, averaging 2.4 hours.
This overuse has been associated with a 53-fold increase in the risk of developmental delays. In urban India, ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is being seen in 11 per cent of school-aged children, and autism spectrum symptoms in up to 3 per cent, that’s potentially 18 million children.
Autism or Just Digital Overload?
The biggest diagnostic challenge today: Is it real autism, or screen-induced symptoms that mimic it?
“True autism is neurodevelopmental, appears early, and is lifelong,” explains Dr. (Col) Joy Dev Mukherji, Vice Chairman & Head of Neurology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket. “It persists regardless of screen time. But in ‘virtual autism,’ symptoms often emerge after prolonged screen exposure and can fade once screen use is cut down.”
Dr. Karthik Raju Iyer, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Altius Hospital, says the difference isn’t always obvious: “We need detailed history, behavior mapping, and tools like the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition) test to distinguish the two. The good news? Many kids improve dramatically with reduced screen time and guided therapy.”
Modern urban lifestyles are part of the problem. With working parents, nuclear households, and digital babysitters, children are spending more time with screens than people.
“In joint families, grandparents played a vital role in nurturing children. That’s missing now. Today’s role models are screen heroes, not real people,” says Dr Shobha.
Dr. Mukherji has observed rising emotional distress in kids such as anxiety, frustration, social withdrawal, all worsened by digital overexposure. Dr. Iyer adds, “In any urban restaurant, you’ll see toddlers glued to tablets instead of talking or playing. These lost interactions are what build developing brains.”
“Despite growing evidence, awareness remains shockingly low as parents often believe they’re giving their child a head-start through ‘educational’ content, “In reality, screens are contributing to speech delays, poor attention spans, and emotional imbalances especially in younger children,” says Dr. Iyer.
“The pandemic only intensified the problem, with digital schooling and lockdown isolation increasing screen dependency. “Virtual autism is not genetic, it’s environmental and in many cases, reversible,” Dr. Mukherji stresses.
India’s healthcare and education systems aren’t equipped to handle the fallout. Dr. Mukherji notes that 12 per cent of children aged 2–9 have some form of developmental disorder but early detection is rare, especially in rural India where specialists are scarce and stigma is high.
“Schools, too, are lagging, most of them still focus on rote learning and don’t accommodate neurodivergent learners. Our classrooms aren’t built for these kids especially outside metro cities,” says Dr. Mukherji.
Parents often face the emotional toll alone. “There’s confusion, guilt, stigma and not enough support,” Dr. Iyer adds.
Dr. Mukherji warns that up to 60 per cent of new autism-like cases may be linked to screen overuse. She urges India to implement clear national guidelines, similar to WHO’s viz zero screen time for children under 2 and no more than one hour a day for kids under five.
Dr. Iyer suggests using India’s existing ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) and ICDS (Integrated Child Development scheme) systems for early detection and outreach. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just need the will. “Parents, teachers, and health workers must act as the frontline. We can’t afford half-measures anymore.”
As India reflects on brain health this World Brain Day, neurologists unanimously inform that too much screen time is rewiring children’s brains permanently, if we don’t act. But there’s hope. Virtual autism can be reversed, if caught early, and treated with connection over convenience.
