Social Media Addiction Puts Bangladesh Students at Risk

Late-night scrolling through Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram has become an everyday routine for millions of young people in Bangladesh, raising growing concerns among parents, educators and health experts about the long-term impact on students' education, mental health and social development.

Researchers and child development specialists warn that excessive use of social media is disrupting sleep patterns, reducing attention spans and increasing anxiety among adolescents. While several countries have introduced strict regulations to protect children from online harms, Bangladesh has yet to adopt comprehensive age-based restrictions or child-specific digital safety measures.

According to 2025 estimates, Bangladesh has nearly 60 million social media users, accounting for around 34 percent of the population. Facebook remains the country's most widely used platform, followed by YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, with teenagers and young adults making up a significant share of users.

Attention Span and Family Bonds Under Pressure

Professor Dr. Salahuddin Kawsar Biplob, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Bangladesh Medical University, said excessive screen time and internet dependency are creating serious mental and physical health challenges for children and adolescents.

He explained that, like other forms of addiction, compulsive social media use triggers repeated dopamine release in the brain, which can impair concentration, weaken memory and reduce attention span over time. He also warned that prolonged digital engagement is limiting children's imagination and encouraging them to retreat from real-life interactions into virtual environments.

Experts say this growing dependence is also affecting family relationships, with many children spending more time online than communicating with parents or participating in outdoor activities.

Impact on Learning and Critical Thinking

Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), expressed concern that unchecked social media use is hindering students' intellectual growth in much the same way as other addictive behaviors.

While acknowledging the educational and communication benefits of digital platforms, she cautioned that their harmful effects are increasingly undermining creativity, critical thinking and healthy cognitive development. She added that the absence of a robust regulatory framework has allowed social media to become an uncontrolled space that threatens family values and social cohesion.

Health Risks Linked to Excessive Screen Time

Research by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh indicates that children in Dhaka spend nearly five hours a day on digital devices, including smartphones, televisions, tablets, computers and gaming consoles.

Recent findings suggest that more than one-third of children experience eye-related problems, while nearly 80 percent frequently suffer from headaches. Excessive screen exposure has also been associated with sleep deprivation, obesity, vision impairment and a range of mental health complications.

A study published in the journal Nature and Science of Sleep, which examined 1,139 Bangladeshi higher secondary graduates, found a strong relationship between social media addiction and declining sleep quality. Researchers reported that highly addicted users were more likely to experience frequent nighttime awakenings, daytime fatigue and reduced academic productivity.

Global Shift Toward Stronger Regulations

Countries around the world are increasingly tightening restrictions on children's use of social media.

The United Kingdom is considering stronger safeguards for under-16 users, including enhanced age verification systems. Australia has already enacted landmark legislation prohibiting children under 16 from using major social media platforms, placing responsibility on technology companies to enforce the rules or face significant penalties.

France is exploring restrictions for children under 15, while several European and Asian countries, including Spain, Norway, Denmark, Greece, Indonesia and Malaysia, have introduced or proposed measures aimed at protecting minors online. China has also implemented a "minor mode" that limits screen time based on age, and the European Union has strengthened child online safety requirements through its Digital Services Act.

Bangladesh Yet to Introduce Child-Focused Measures

Despite rising concerns, Bangladesh currently has no dedicated age-based restrictions governing social media use by minors. Existing child protection laws contain few provisions on digital safety, while cyber legislation largely focuses on criminal offences rather than safeguarding children from harmful online experiences.

A UNICEF survey found that nearly two-thirds of young people in Bangladesh support stronger policies against harmful online behaviour. Among approximately 29,000 respondents, 45 percent reported having experienced cyberbullying, highlighting the growing need for effective intervention.

Experts Urge Immediate Action

Technology expert Suman Ahmed Sabir supports restricting social media access for children under 16 but believes regulation alone will not solve the problem.

He stressed the importance of educating both parents and children about the risks of excessive social media use while creating more opportunities for sports, cultural activities and healthy recreation.

Dr. Md. Touhidul Haque, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at the University of Dhaka, warned that easy access to smartphones and high-speed internet is changing children's behaviour in troubling ways.

According to him, many young users are gradually losing face-to-face communication skills, becoming more aggressive and distancing themselves from family and community values.

Calls for a Coordinated National Response

Experts say protecting children in the digital age will require coordinated efforts by government agencies, schools, parents and technology companies. They recommend introducing age-based restrictions for users under 16, requiring stronger age verification by platforms, incorporating internet safety into school curricula, expanding public awareness campaigns for parents and strengthening child protection provisions within cyber laws.

They also argue that technology companies should face stricter accountability if they fail to safeguard young users from harmful content and addictive platform designs.

As digital addiction continues to affect students' education, health and emotional well-being, specialists warn that delaying effective policy measures could have lasting consequences for Bangladesh's future generation.