Anupam Mittal, entrepreneur and popular Shark Tank India judge, recently opened up on social media in a way that surprised many. This time, he spoke as a father, concerned, restless, and deeply reflective about where the world, especially India, seems to be heading.
In a striking message, Mittal called out the growing digital obsession gripping people of all ages. He described it as the nation’s most serious, yet unaddressed, crisis. “India’s biggest brain drain isn’t to Silicon Valley. It’s to the scroll,” he wrote, setting the tone for a post that struck a chord with thousands.
Mittal didn’t hold back. While remaining optimistic about India’s future on the global entrepreneurial stage, he voiced worries that this promise comes with an alarming cost. He admitted he has full faith in the country’s potential, saying, “I’ve put my money on it.” Yet, beneath that confidence lies fear about a distracted generation losing itself to an endless feed of digital noise.
His observation wasn’t limited to adults glued to their devices. What alarmed him more was how rapidly children were falling prey to the same patterns. He drew attention to the difference in media evolution between the West and India. While other nations moved gradually from radio to television to the internet, India bypassed those phases and plunged straight into algorithm-fuelled short videos. The transition happened so fast, there wasn’t time to pause and reflect.
Mittal illustrated this shift with a personal example. He shared how his own 7-year-old starts watching harmless cartoons like Peppa Pig but somehow, in no time, gets pulled into a maze of glitchy animations and bizarre, algorithm-suggested content. The digital world, designed to capture attention and hold it hostage, has turned into an invisible trap.
Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok didn’t escape his criticism either. He questioned their long-term impact on society. “They captured attention and monetized it. But what did we lose in the process?” he asked. The concern wasn’t about losing time alone, it was about losing meaningful conversation, outdoor play, and real-world engagement.
Mittal observed a growing silence in homes and cafes, among friends and family. A world where teens barely interact, adults rarely think beyond what the screen tells them, and children are growing up without knowing what life feels like offline. He called it “a ‘Black Mirror’ episode no one signed up for. The reference to the popular dystopian series underlined the eerie, almost sci-fi-like world modern life had turned into.
Importantly, Mittal didn’t claim to have answers. There were no five-point solutions or digital detox programs proposed. What he offered was raw honesty. “This isn’t a call to delete social apps. It’s a rant from a concerned father. And maybe, a conversation about our children,” he admitted.
He left the conversation open-ended, urging other parents, educators, and working professionals to contribute their thoughts. “How do we make sure the India we’re building doesn’t forget to look up?” he asked, a question that lingered long after the post ended.
