By Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged students to take a more balanced approach to smartphones and social media, saying excessive dependence on technology can affect their ability to think, learn and concentrate. He encouraged children to spend more time reading good books and using digital platforms mainly for education and useful information.
Speaking to schoolgirls at the Sneh Bandhan programme at his official residence on Kalidas Marg in Lucknow on Raksha Bandhan, the Chief Minister said technology has become an important part of modern life but should not be allowed to control a person’s routine.
CM Yogi warns against excessive smartphone use
Adityanath was responding to a student’s question about the impact of social media on children. He said social media contains both useful and harmful material, making it important for students to be selective about what they watch and follow.
He described smartphones as a challenge for the younger generation when their use becomes excessive enough to interfere with independent thinking.
According to the Chief Minister, smartphones can be valuable tools for online education and accessing quality information. However, he cautioned that not everything available online is suitable or beneficial for students.
‘Read good and inspiring books’
Adityanath advised students to gradually reduce the amount of time they spend on their phones, particularly those who use smartphones for several hours every day.
He suggested that children replace some of their screen time with books that can broaden their knowledge and encourage positive thinking. Developing good thinking habits, he said, is important for young people who want to progress in life.
Technology should support learning, not replace thinking
The Chief Minister compared growing smartphone dependence with the increasing use of calculators. He recalled a time when children routinely memorised multiplication tables and basic calculations, whereas greater reliance on calculators has reduced the need to retain some of that information.
He said a similar pattern can be seen with smartphones, with people increasingly turning to them for answers, information and everyday tasks.
Adityanath cautioned that excessive dependence on digital devices could weaken a person’s habit of thinking independently and may also affect eyesight. He therefore called on students to maintain a healthy distance from smartphones and use them with discipline.
Raksha Bandhan celebrations at CM’s residence
The advice came during the Sneh Bandhan programme organised at the Chief Minister’s residence as part of Raksha Bandhan celebrations.
Schoolgirls tied rakhis on Yogi Adityanath’s wrist during the programme, and the Chief Minister presented gifts to them.
The interaction combined the festive spirit of Raksha Bandhan with a broader message for students: technology can be useful when used wisely, but education, reading, physical activity and independent thinking should not be pushed aside by excessive screen time.
