ISLAMABAD: In countless homes, parents reach for phones, tablets or laptops to quiet restless toddlers, seeking brief relief in busy days. But this simple act is fuelling a hidden crisis. By choosing screens over real interaction, they are unknowingly raising children vulnerable to virtual autism, a condition that stunts emotional growth and social skills during critical early years.
What feels like a moment of peace today could cost a lifetime of challenges tomorrow. The most vulnerable are children between the ages of 2 to 7, a period when the brain is forming critical neural connections. This is when children develop speech, imagination, emotional control and social skills. But instead of learning through play, bonding and exploration, many children now spend these vital years staring silently at phones and tablets.
Handing a 3-year-old a phone to keep them quiet may feel like a small parenting hack, but it can trigger a chain of neurological consequences. What looks like calm today often becomes emotional instability, anxiety and delayed development tomorrow. Many parents openly admit they don’t use phones out of necessity, but for convenience, to manage chores, enjoy a tea break or scroll through social media. While in the short term, it may offer relief. But the long-term impact is far more damaging, screen dependency, delayed language, poor eye contact and trouble forming relationships are classic markers of virtual autism.
In Pakistan, doctors are already raising the alarm. A senior psychologist, Dr Iqbal Afridi, and a clinical psychologist, Ilsa Malik, in Islamabad, warned that screens are damaging children’s memory, emotions and sleep. Dr Tayyab Afghani of Rawalpindi also noted how mobile addiction is straining children’s emotional development and even harming their eyesight.
Sara Khan, mother of a 6-year-old boy from Islamabad said, “My son spends hours on YouTube and playing games on phone. He used to play outside but now he cries when I take the phone away. He even skips meals just to keep watching.” Ayesha Malik, mother of a 4-year-old girl from Lahore said, “I gave my daughter the phone to help me cook and finish work. Now she refuses to sleep without watching cartoons. I regret introducing her to the screen so early.”
Parents have reported thinking that at first, they thought using phones for children just for 10 minutes or so was harmless. But 10 minutes later turned into hours. They reported that it has come to a point, where, when the phone’s battery dies, they star crying, and they do not even recognise their family members anymore.
The negative effects are showing up in schools as well. Teachers report children are unable to sit still, follow instructions or share with peers. Many cannot handle boredom or delay gratification, which are clear signs of overstimulation through screens and underdevelopment of real-world emotional coping.
Experts say that the government must introduce clear restrictions on screen use for children under 7. Hospitals, schools, and social programmes should run aggressive awareness campaigns, especially targeting mothers. Where neglect is repeated, real consequences must follow to safeguard children’s health. Tech companies must also be held accountable. Apps and content designed for children under 7 should face strict regulation, including mandatory screen time limits and age locks. Giving a child a phone or a digital screen is not a clever fix. It is a decision that shapes brain chemistry, emotional growth, and long-term well-being.
News Published in Express Tribune on March 25th, 2026.
