In a few years, India will become an example of how an entire generation was destroyed by social media

You step onto a metro train, a bus, or walk into almost any public place. Everywhere, you see the same sight: young heads bent down, eyes glued to their screens.

Here’s a small dare: just take a quick look at what they are watching. More often than not, you’ll see one short video after another, endlessly scrolling every few seconds.

Of course, there is a positive side to short-form content. If those videos contain real, valuable information that helps us learn something or improve our lives, they can be useful.

But we all know what usually grabs attention, someone’s personal vlog, a dance video, a prank, gossip, sensational content, or even fake news.

And this problem is not limited to children.

Today, I witnessed an adult couple having a brief argument about the flash floods in Nepal. Both had watched different short clips taken from different parts of the same longer video. Interestingly, both of them were right, but each had seen only half the truth.

Now imagine what this can do to a young mind.

Half-truths. Fake news. Unrealistic lifestyles displayed by unknown influencers. Endless comparison. Constant entertainment. One video after another, with barely a moment to think.

After spending hours in this endless pool of social media, the brain becomes tired and restless. Focus begins to weaken. And when focus suffers, almost everything else follows, reading, learning, skills, sleep, relationships, and even health.

So, how do we protect the next generation?

It has to begin with us.

We need to limit our own mobile usage before asking our children to limit theirs. We need to bring back the habit of reading. Buy them books. Let them read, play, ask questions, explore, get bored, discover things, and experience the real world.

That is exactly what we are trying to do through Yaksha Prashna.

Every month, Yaksha Prashna brings colourful, curiosity-filled stories on paper to your doorstep. Instead of giving children another screen to stare at, we give them questions that encourage them to look at the world around them.

Every story begins with a question and then explores the science, history, ideas, and fascinating stories hidden behind the ordinary things we see every day.

A child who learns to ask questions will always have a world to explore beyond a screen.

Let’s begin today.

Gift your child Yaksha Prashna - a monthly general knowledge magazine that turns curiosity into a habit at https://www.yakshaprashna.co.in