At a time when digital addiction and screen dependency are taking a horrific turn in Nepal, serious questions have been raised regarding governance and policy frameworks, accusing the state leadership of disregarding the gravity of the issue. Against the backdrop of citizens ranging from children to the elderly falling prey to the fatal addiction of staring at mobile screens for hours daily, widespread criticism has erupted against the country's chief executive for indulging in informal and bantering digital activities on social media instead of seeking policy solutions. Sociologists and policy experts have expressed deep concern over the ironic scenario where millions of Nepali users wait on social platforms for the Prime Minister's next status or digital post, noting that this not only wastes the productive time of citizens but also pushes the country deeper into the abyss of digital addiction.
Across the globe, recognizing digital addiction as a major threat to public health and mental well-being, there is a rising international wave toward enacting strict 'Screen Laws'. Various governments are taking statutory measures to legally mandate screen time limits for different age groups on mobile devices and social media, rather than merely issuing generic health guidelines. Globally, this legal approach is fundamentally divided into two styles: first, strict time-rationing laws implemented in East Asia, and second, age-based platform bans or digital curfews rapidly expanding across Western nations. Stakeholders claim that while the world moves forward, the complete apathy of responsible government bodies and political leadership in Nepal is causing irreparable damage to public health and the psychological development of the younger generation.
Looking at international practices, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has legally enforced strict daily time limits for minors under 18 through a 'Minor Mode' framework. Under this, displaying video content to children under 3 is completely discouraged, recommending audio-only content instead, while daily screen time is capped at 40 minutes for ages 3 to 8, 1 hour for ages 8 to 16, and a maximum of 2 hours for adolescents aged 16 to 18. China also enforces a universal night curfew blocking internet access between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, alongside a mandatory system alert every 30 minutes of continuous screen use. Similarly, in 2015, Taiwan amended its Children and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act, introducing a stringent provision to fine parents or legal guardians up to NT$ 50,000 (approximately $1,500 USD) if their children fall physically or mentally ill due to excessive screen usage.
On the other hand, Western nations have adopted policies to ban entire categories of social media platforms or enforce digital curfews instead of tracking exact screen minutes. Australia has passed a historic law completely banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, where tech companies face multi-million dollar penalties if they fail to verify age via biometrics or identification. US states such as Utah and Arkansas have implemented laws restricting social media usage without parental consent, introducing a 'digital curfew' that automatically blocks apps and notifications between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM. In Europe, France and Denmark have mandated strict bans or parental consent for social media users under 15, while Turkey, Norway, Spain, Poland, and Slovenia have established rigid age limits of 15 or 16 alongside stringent legal frameworks to curb digital dependency.
While the world's powerful and conscious nations deploy state mechanisms and enforce a strict legal hammer to protect their citizens and future generations from digital dependency, no concrete policy debate has even commenced in Nepal. Analysts accuse the Prime Minister himself of being excessively active on social media, indulging in cheap digital popularity and informal interactions, which has alienated the entire state machinery from this grave national issue. Widespread pressure is mounting across Nepal to immediately introduce strict 'Screen Laws' to protect children's mental health and prevent the wastage of productive time. If the head of government remains preoccupied with virtual applause, trolls, and comments, an entire generation of Nepalis faces an imminent risk of falling victim to digital psychological disorders—a crisis that cannot be resolved through an entertaining digital presence, but demands rigorous legal and policy reforms.