Digital well-being in focus for youth

Chennai: In an era where screens increasingly shape how young people learn, unwind, and connect, The Times of India's national initiative ‘Let's D-Stress' will be taking this conversation on digital well being directly to IIT-Madras, Guindy on Saturday. The latest edition of Let's D-Stress Campus Conversations will be held at the Central Lecture Theatre (CLT), 6pm onwards.The evening will open on a lighter note with a stand-up performance by Ramkumar Natarajan, who will use humour and everyday college experiences to reflect on screen dependence, social media habits, and the irony of being constantly connected yet mentally drained.Following this, students will be invited to participate in a digital addiction self-assessment, offering them a quick snapshot of their own screen-time patterns and online behaviours. The assessment serves as a starting point for reflection, helping participants recognise early signs of digital overuse and its possible impact on concentration, sleep and emotional well-being.The conversation will then move into a deeper, expert-led interaction with Dr Shiva Prakash Srinivasan, consultant psychiatrist, department of youth mental health, SCARF (Chennai). Drawing from clinical experience and real-world examples, Srinivasan will address the psychological effects of digital addiction among young adults and discuss practical ways to build healthier relationships with technology without disengaging from it entirely.The session aims to help students pause and reassess their digital habits in an always-on environment. The focus is not on detoxing from technology, but on fostering mindful usage where screens support productivity and connection rather than overwhelm it.With ‘Let's D-Stress', The Times of India continues to spark meaningful conversations around mental well-being, conscious media consumption and balanced digital habits as essential life skills for the next generation.