Excessive Use of Social Media and Digital Games as Barriers to Academic Engagement among Higher Secondary Students

The increasing penetration of digital technology has significantly influenced students’ learning environments and behavioural patterns. Social media platforms, particularly Instagram with its short-form video feature known as Reels, along with digital games, have become dominant components of students’ daily lives. While these technologies possess educational potential, their excessive and unregulated use has emerged as a serious challenge to academic engagement. This article presents a reflective, classroom-based study examining the impact of excessive social media usage and digital gaming on students’ attention, concentration, seriousness towards studies, and overall academic engagement at the Higher Secondary level. Observations indicate that addiction to short-form video content and prolonged gaming reduces attention span, classroom participation, and study discipline. The study also highlights the need for pedagogical strategies and parental involvement to promote balanced digital habits and improve students’ academic engagement.