Lost in Transition: Why Kerala’s Youth and Children Are Losing Their Way

Kerala, once hailed as a model of literacy, social awareness & human development, is now witnessing an unsettling behavioural drift among some of its young people. Growing instances of substance use, academic disengagement, emotional instability, aggression, and digital dependency point to deeper social and psychological undercurrents. Understanding this transformation requires a closer look at the changing ecosystem influencing today’s children and youth.

1. Evolving Family Dynamics: –

The traditional family structure in Kerala, once a stronghold of emotional security and value transmission, has undergone significant change. Dual-income households and demanding professional lives often leave parents with limited time and energy for meaningful engagement. As a result, children face inconsistent boundaries, emotional neglect, and a growing sense of isolation. The absence of regular dialogue and shared family experiences has weakened the moral foundation that guided earlier generations.

2. Unregulated Digital Exposure: –

Kerala’s impressive internet penetration has come with a hidden cost – unrestricted digital exposure. Smartphones, gaming, and social media have become central to children’s daily lives, often replacing real – world interactions. Exposure to inappropriate content, online comparison culture, and the constant pursuit of digital validation are fuelling anxiety, impulsivity, and loss of concentration. This pervasive digital dependency disrupts healthy routines and emotional balance.

3. Weak Life Skills and Emotional Coping: –

Despite Kerala’s academic achievements, many students lack the emotional intelligence and resilience needed to handle real – life challenges. Limited focus on life skills – such as self awareness, problem solving, empathy & emotional regulation has left children ill – equipped to handle stress, rejection, or peer pressure. Without these coping skills, frustration often spills over into aggression, withdrawal, or risky behaviour.

4. Peer Influence and Negative Subcultures: –

The search for belonging has led many young people to form or join peer groups that normalise unhealthy habits. Whether through online communities or local friend circles, these groups often promote aggression, substance use, and defiance toward authority. Such subcultures create reinforcing loops of validation and pressure, making it harder for young individuals to make independent, responsible choices.

5. Substance Availability and Curiosity

The increasing availability of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in urban and semi – urban areas has lowered the threshold for experimentation. Combined with curiosity and thrill – seeking tendencies, this accessibility has intensified early exposure to addiction. Once dependence sets in, it disrupts not only academic success but also mental stability and family relationships.

6. Academic Pressure and Career Uncertainty: –

Academic excellence has long been a marker of success in Kerala, but growing competition and limited career diversification have amplified student anxiety. Those who fall short of these high expectations often experience identity crises and low self – worth. Without supportive guidance, they may turn to escapist behaviours or disengage from education altogether.

7. Declining Community and Value – Based Engagement: –

Kerala’s youth today participate less in community – driven activities like sports, arts & cultural programs that once instilled discipline and social values. The fading of such collective experiences has created a vaccum in character formation, empathy, and social responsibility. When individualism overshadows community participation, a sense of purpose and belonging gradually erodes.

8. Gaps in Mental – Health Support: –

Although mental health awareness is improving, access to trained counsellors and youth – friendly support systems remains inadequate. Many children suffer in silence, lacking safe spaces to share emotional struggles. Unaddressed stress & trauma manifest as disruptive behaviour, aggression, or emotional withdrawal, reinforcing a cycle of neglect & misunderstanding.

Conclusion: –

The behavioural drift among Kerala’s youth is not a symptom of moral decline but a reflection of a changing social landscape. Fragmented families, digital saturation, academic stress & emotional vulnerability together shape this complex challenge. Building a more resilient generation requires collective effort, strengthening parental involvement, integrating life – skills education, promoting mindful digital use, expanding mental health infrastructure & reviving community – based engagement. Only through such coordinated action can Kerala’s young minds rediscover direction, discipline, and hope.

References: –

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