Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital work has become an integral part of everyday life. The special thing is that people have become victims of living online. According to a global study by cyber security company NortonLifeLock, 66 percent or two out of every three Indians have become a victim of the habit of being online due to the pandemic.
74% of the Indians in the study admitted that the amount of time they spend in front of screens negatively affects their physical health. 55 percent say that their mental health is being affected due to this habit.
Ritesh Chopra, India, and SAARC countries director (sales and marketing), NortonLifeLock, says the pandemic has increased the reliance on screens for tasks that can be done offline. However, it is important for everyone to strike a healthy balance between their on-screen and off-screen time so that the health and above all, the health of their children is not adversely affected.
The study reviews consumers' online behavior while at home. In an online study by The Harris Poll of more than 1,000 Indian adults, 82 percent said their time spent in front of digital screens increased significantly during the pandemic, apart from those used for education and professional work. An adult in India spends an average of 4.4 hours a day on screens, apart from professional or educational pursuits. Smartphones are the most common device in which they spend a lot of time (84 percent).
Chopra said the number and types of cyber threats in the online landscape have increased. Also, users should be mindful of how and where they use their connected devices. Convenience should not exceed security. The loss of personal or confidential information can have serious consequences, he added. It is important for parents to know this and educate their children about the need for cyber security.
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