India promotes digital detoxes to combat excessive screen time

In 2022, Indians spent an average of nearly five hours a day on their mobiles – the eighth highest figure in the world, according to a report by analysts from data.ai Intelligence. Social media giants are accused of fuelling the addiction. Excessive use of smartphones can cause social isolation and mental health issues, to the extent that some Indian doctors are now specialising in screen addiction. Meanwhile, a group of villages in southern India are imposing mandatory 90-minute digital detoxes. Our correspondents report.