Ahmedabad: While the Abhayam 181 women’s helpline has no specific category for smartphone-related issues, officials log them under interpersonal disputes, noting a steady rise in screen addiction cases over the years. Statistics show the helpline receives an average of one call every day from Ahmedabad where screen usage is the primary bone of contention.“Screen addiction does not always show up as a lack of attention. In several cases, it manifests as anger, anxiety, depression, violent behaviour, sleep disruptions, or falling grades,” a helpline counsellor said.While parents frequently use phones to distract children, the strategy often backfires. “We have handled cases where children refuse to eat unless a screen is placed right in front of them,” the counsellor added.
