Screen exposure leads to impaired quality of life of children and may have adverse outcomes markedly during early phase of development. Increased screen exposure has been linked to language delay, depreciated motor skill development and delayed cognitive development. Youth is a sensitive time, and the habits acquired during this period last a lifetime. Today's generation wastes their time with smartphones and other electronic media, which prevents them from focusing on academic and other healthy activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate the problem of screen time and child mental ability. We can safely assume that a high percentage of adolescents in Tamilnadu spend more than the recommended screen time on smartphones and a significant proportion of them appear to have negative academic outcomes.