India, Dec. 29 -- A few months ago, I was searching the net and brainstorming for a presentation on 'Promoting literacy in the digital era', which was this year's theme on International Literacy Day. After browsing through digital platforms and applications besides reading up on cyber security, I concluded with cautionary key points. But a disturbing thought hounded me for I realised how deeply we've been enmeshed by the digital demon. I looked around the campus and saw zombies lost in their own worlds, oblivious to fellow humans, shuffling through the college corridor. It seemed an illustration of ST Coleridge's "willing suspension of disbelief". An eerie silence shrouded the common room, too, with mobile phones casting a hypnotic spell. Tiny ear plugs were the agents of seclusion. A celebration, be it a wedding or birthday or house warming or a get-together, implies posing for selfies, pictures, videos and uploading them on social media. Instead of enjoying the occasion, our concern is focused on capturing the moment. Dear Wordsworth, we would rather check whether our eyes are open at the flash than seek "tranquility" to let the moment "flash upon that inward eye". We, the Gen X or the Millennial, too jumped on the bandwagon out of FOMO. Slowly, but surely, we have picked up the nuances of the digital world. A ping on our gadget and we check immediately. Flash back to school/college time: An era of contact. We transitioned to the auditory world: Phone calls. From the physical to the verbal and now into the digital. We spend our birthday/anniversary hitting the like/love option or dropping an emoji. After a day glued to the screen, one cryptic 'thank you all' suffices. The ubiquitous CCTV has entered our homes not as a security device but to keep an eye on the house help. A modern mom boasts that she engages her toddler on the mobile and the child happily eats the meals! Imagine the ill-effects on growth and emotional well-being. Digital addiction is of utmost concern and calls for introspection. It's high time to come out of the virtual world into the real one, from 'on line' to 'off line'. The sedentary lifestyle and social isolation are taking a toll on our mental and physical well-being. The remedy is digital detox. Limit your screen time. Take a deliberate break. Stay away from digital devices and bond with the real. Unplug from social media. Disconnect your devices and reconnect with your own self. Regain your peace of mind and forge real bonds through personal interaction. Dedicate your free time to physical activity, commune with nature or pursue a hobby. The goal is to shed unhealthy habits, gain a clearer perspective of life and foster a healthier relationship with technology. Beware, technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master....