Digital Bangladesh faces wellbeing test

From the crowded streets of Dhaka to the quiet corners of backwater villages, the glow of digital screens has become inescapable. Bangladesh's transformation has brought remarkable connectivity, on the information superhighway. Yet this digital leap forward comes with a pressing challenge: the growing toll of excessive screen time on the nation's wellbeing, particularly among the youth.

While comprehensive national statistics remain limited, existing studies offer sobering insights. Research suggests that a significant number of Bangladeshis, especially children and adolescents, are spending worrying amounts of time on screens. The surge is fuelled by widespread access to affordable smartphones and data packages, stocking concerns over physical, mental, and social health.

Youth most at risk: Young people are at the forefront of this digital dilemma. A 2024 study in the East West Medical College Journal noted arrested social development across age groups due to excessive screen use. A more recent 2025 study by icddr,b found that 93 per cent of Dhaka-based children reported blurred vision, with 78 per cent experiencing dry or sore eyes-clear signs of screen overexposure.

The psychological consequences are just as troubling. Studies link high social-media use with increased anxiety, depression, and body- image issues. The constant pressure to project idealised digital personas is undermining mental resilience among Bangladeshi youth.

Platforms, pressure and perils: Facebook remains most used platform, but YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are fast catching up, especially among younger users. While these platforms offer connection and creativity, they also bring risks: misinformation, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content are mounting concerns.

Sociologists describe this connectivity as a double-edged sword. Social media can empower activism and awareness, but it also fosters polarisation and propaganda. The challenge is to

maximise the benefits while curbing

the harms.

As such, parents in a bind. For many parents, managing children's screen time is a daily struggle. The COVID-19 pandemic normalised digital learning, making it harder to separate education from entertainment. A 2025 study shows that many parents lack awareness of screen-time guidelines or the tools to supervise their children online.

Socioeconomic disparities compound the problem. In urban dual-income households, devices often serve as

digital babysitters. In rural areas, despite high smartphone penetration, limited digital literacy hampers parental control and guidance.

A growing movement for balance: Encouragingly, a movement for digital wellbeing is beginning to emerge.

While digita transformation largely focuses on innovation, it now incorporates elements of digital literacy and responsible use.

Non-profits and community initiatives are stepping in. BRAC's digital-literacy drives and UNICEF's partnerships with telecom operators are helping raise awareness of online safety.

Mental-health platforms like Moner Bondhu are offering support to those affected by the digital lifestyle's

psychological strain.

Experts advocate for a holistic approach: empowering parents and teachers, integrating digital citizenship into school curricula, and encouraging offline activities. The aim is not to reject technology, but to cultivate conscious, mindful users.

Looking ahead from this milieu is a collective responsibility. As Bangladesh's digital transformation accelerates, the need to safeguard citizens' wellbeing in the online realm is urgent. This requires cross-sector collaboration: clear government policies, integration of online safety into education, and community-driven efforts to foster healthier habits.

The aspired digital wellbeing demands a balance. For Bangladesh, the challenge is to ensure that digital tools serve to enrich lives-not diminish them. Success will depend on the nation's ability to embrace the digital future without losing sight of the human one.