Karnataka unveils India’s first industry-led digital detox initiative

Launched by Karnataka’s IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge at GAFX 2025, the initiative seeks to raise awareness about excessive digital consumption and integrate digital wellness into mainstream healthcare.

By  Storyboard18Mar 18, 2025 12:15 PM
Karnataka unveils India’s first industry-led digital detox initiative
Launched by Karnataka’s IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge at GAFX 2025, the initiative seeks to raise awareness about excessive digital consumption and integrate digital wellness into mainstream healthcare.

The Karnataka government, in collaboration with the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), has launched 'Beyond Screens', India’s first industry-led digital detox initiative aimed at addressing digital addiction and promoting responsible technology use.

Launched by Karnataka’s IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge at GAFX 2025, the initiative seeks to raise awareness about excessive digital consumption and integrate digital wellness into mainstream healthcare. The programme, developed with Kahamind Healthcare Private Limited, will provide structured interventions, including education, support, and research-driven strategies to help individuals develop healthier digital habits.

Minister Kharge emphasised the need to balance online and offline life, urging users to prioritise "sunlight before screen light." He stated that the initiative would offer practical tools to manage digital dependency and foster a more responsible approach to technology use.

AIGF CEO Roland Landers highlighted the gaming industry's role in encouraging responsible digital engagement, stating that this initiative sets an important benchmark for the sector. The Beyond Screens programme will serve as a resource hub for those struggling with excessive screen time, offering both short-term support and long-term digital detox strategies.

The initiative marks a significant step in recognising digital addiction as a public health concern, with plans to expand its reach through collaborations with healthcare providers and community awareness programmes.

First Published on Mar 18, 2025 12:15 PM

More from Storyboard18

Advertising

Navi Mumbai airport sells 70% of ad space before opening; Jewar follows close behind

Navi Mumbai airport sells 70% of ad space before opening; Jewar follows close behind

Digital

YouTube turns 20: 20 billion videos, 20 million daily uploads and a reinvention

YouTube turns 20: 20 billion videos, 20 million daily uploads and a reinvention

Digital

Apple to shift assembly of all US-sold iPhones to India by 2025

Apple to shift assembly of all US-sold iPhones to India by 2025

Advertising

UP govt plans to replace traditional hoardings with digital displays

UP govt plans to replace traditional hoardings with digital displays

Digital

Perplexity AI joins forces with Motorola to bring answer engine to smartphones

Perplexity AI joins forces with Motorola to bring answer engine to smartphones

Brand Makers

Rob Lake and the return of live spectacle in a digital world: The master of illusion in India

Rob Lake and the return of live spectacle in a digital world: The master of illusion in India

Brand Marketing

Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath raises alarm over apps misusing user data without consent

Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath raises alarm over apps misusing user data without consent

Digital

Alphabet Q1 2025: Google's ad revenue growth slows, hits $66.89 billion in the quarter

Alphabet Q1 2025: Google's ad revenue growth slows, hits $66.89 billion in the quarter