Children in Indian and South Asian households grow up surrounded by warmth, family activity and community life. In recent years, however, a new presence has entered many homes: screens. Phones play during meals, tablets keep children busy while parents cook, and televisions run constantly in the background.
During an SBS Punjabi podcast a few years ago, I used the term Electronic Nanny to describe how digital devices were quietly becoming caretakers. It was meant as a gentle warning. Today it has become a growing concern, especially for young migrant families balancing work, financial pressures, study and settlement challenges.
Across Australia, paediatricians are seeing more children with autism-like symptoms linked to excessive screen use, a pattern now referred to as Virtual Autism.
What Is Virtual Autism?
Virtual Autism is not an official medical diagnosis and is not listed in the DSM-5, which clinicians use to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder. The term was introduced by Romanian psychologist Dr Marius Zamfir, who observed young children spending long hours on screens and showing symptoms such as speech delay, poor eye contact, limited social interaction, irritability and repetitive behaviours. When screen time was reduced and replaced with real-world interaction, many children improved. This raised important questions about how digital exposure affects developing brains.
Why Screens Become the Electronic Nanny
Many South Asian families in Australia navigate demanding careers, settlement stresses, academic expectations and a lack of extended family support. Screens become a quick and easy solution.
Meals are easier when a child is quietly watching a phone. Long drives become peaceful with YouTube. Work-from-home meetings run smoothly when a toddler has a tablet. Over time, this digital helper replaces human interaction, eye contact, conversation, family bonding, play and cultural storytelling, all of which are vital for healthy development.
A Story from My Clinic
Aarav* was two years and eight months old when he came to my clinic. His parents were worried he had autism. He did not respond when they called his name, avoided eye contact, and the moment he entered the room he searched anxiously for a screen.
Aarav was watching devices for four to six hours a day. Both parents worked full-time, and during COVID lockdowns the tablet had become their solution for meals, meetings and housework.
He had few words, showed little interest in toys and had severe tantrums when the screen was removed. His behaviour resembled autism. But when his father began a simple peek-a-boo game, Aarav smiled and looked directly at him. It was a brief but meaningful sign that his social skills were still there, buried beneath heavy screen dependence.
I recommended a strict six-week break from screens. The first week was difficult, full of crying and tantrums. Gradually, though, Aarav began looking up more often, babbling more, and bringing toys to his parents. His sleep and appetite improved.
After six weeks, he returned as a transformed child. He walked confidently into my clinic, explored the toys and responded to his name. His mother cried as she said, “Doctor, he is becoming himself again.”
Virtual Autism vs Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder is lifelong and shaped by genetic and neurological factors. It does not disappear when screens are removed. Virtual Autism, however, refers to behaviours caused by excessive screen exposure in very young children. These behaviours often improve significantly when screens are reduced and real interaction is restored.
Screens do not cause autism. They can, however, mimic or worsen autism-like symptoms in otherwise typically developing children.
Why Excessive Screen Time Affects Young Brains
The first three years are crucial for brain development. Children learn through face-to-face interaction, touch, movement and emotional connection. When screens replace these experiences, the brain receives less stimulation.
Screen overuse can reduce opportunities for children to practise speech, make eye contact, understand emotions, and engage in creative play. Fast-paced content can overstimulate the brain, leading to poor attention and irritability. Sleep patterns can also be affected.
In essence, children learn best from lived experiences, not from digital ones.
Can Virtual Autism Be Reversed?
In many cases, yes. When screen exposure is reduced and replaced with real-world interaction, children often show improvements in speech, attention, eye contact and behaviour. Early changes bring the best results.
What Parents Can Do
Screens do not need to be banned entirely. Parents should aim for moderation. Children under two should avoid screens where possible. For older toddlers, content should be calm and educational, without background television. Watching together and discussing what is on screen helps language development.
Most importantly, families should set aside time for conversation, outdoor activity, pretend play, singing, storytelling and cultural traditions. These human moments shape a child’s brain far more effectively than any app or programme.
The Bottom Line
Virtual Autism is not a formal diagnosis, but it is a growing concern. The Electronic Nanny may keep children quiet, yet it takes away the emotional richness of real interaction.
As a community, we must protect childhood. Children need our time, stories, culture and presence. In the end, they learn most powerfully from people, not pixels.
*Name has been changed for privacy.
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