A Problem Growing Faster Than Technology

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 12:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Technology has developed rapidly over the past few years, and it has become an essential part of the modern lifestyle. Today, digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and computers are used in almost every place, including home, school, and office. Also, that equipment is used by almost every generation, like Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha. After covid-19, children mostly learn through online lessons, educational applications, and digital classrooms. Also, parents use technology to communicate and manage their work. Especially after the growth of online learning and remote communication, digital technology has become a powerful tool. This development has clearly improved convenience and access to information in everyday life.

However, excessive use of digital devices has created a serious problem, especially among children (Gen Alpha). Almost all children spend long hours in front of digital screens. Video games and social media are the things that keep children in front of digital screens for so long. These unhealthy patterns of digital screen use often result in eye strain, sleep disorders, reduced physical activity, weak social skills, and emotional problems such as stress and mood swings. Parents struggle to control their children’s screen time, and schools lack clear guidelines on maintaining healthy digital habits. Most of the children use smartphones late at night, and it is leading to poor concentration and tiredness at the school. These situations show how a useful technology has gradually become a major social concern.

For this growing problem, many entrepreneurs have introduced the solutions that balance technology use and well-being. There are educational apps and interactive games introduced by entrepreneurs that promote learning while limiting unnecessary screen time. Also, tools that allow parents to monitor and control device usage have become widely popular. Applications such as Carrots & Cake, Lock & Stock, and Focus Fun encourage children to take breaks, practice mindfulness, and engage in physical activities through fun challenges. Although several solutions have been introduced by entrepreneurs, these solutions are not widely applied by parents in Sri Lanka. As a result, the problem of excessive screen time still continues among children in Sri Lanka. This situation creates strong opportunities for entrepreneurs to introduce more innovative and user-friendly solutions that suit the Sri Lankan context.

While technology plays a key role in modern lifestyle, its excessive use has created serious problems for the health and development of future heirs in the world. Entrepreneurs play a vital role in transforming this problem into an opportunity by creating practical and innovative digital wellness solutions. Although there are solutions for that problem, the limited adoption of these tools by parents in Sri Lanka shows that issue still remains unresolved. Therefore entrepreneurs have grate opportunity to create innovative solutions for the Sri Lankan context to promote healthy technology use among children.

Suhelee Senadheera

Final year student

University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Department of Entrepreneurship