New Delhi: The Women’s Department of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind organised an online panel discussion titled “Living in the Digital Age: Balancing Technology, Human Identity and Values,” bringing together experts in psychology, counselling, digital transformation, education and social work to examine technology’s growing influence on human relationships, emotional well-being and identity.
Delivering the presidential address, Shahista Rafat, National Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, called for a balanced and responsible approach to technology. While acknowledging its role in expanding access to education, healthcare and information, she warned that excessive and unregulated use can erode core human values such as honesty, self-worth, critical thinking and creativity. She urged parents, teachers and mentors to model healthy digital habits for children and cautioned against over-reliance on Artificial Intelligence, saying it could weaken independent thinking and creativity. Technology, she said, should remain a tool that serves human needs rather than one that controls human behaviour and relationships.
She emphasised that the answer is not to reject technology, but to use it with awareness, moderation and responsibility. Technology should remain a tool that serves human needs and enhances human life, rather than becoming something that controls human behaviour, choices and relationships. The need, therefore, is to ensure that technological progress is accompanied by the preservation of human dignity, values, independent thinking and genuine human connection.
In her inaugural address, Rabia Basri, National Assistant Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, questioned whether technological progress is helping people become better human beings. She pointed to the paradox of having hundreds of online contacts while having few people to genuinely confide in, and stressed that technology should remain a means of communication and service rather than a substitute for humanity.
Psychologist and counsellor Rachana Shrivastav discussed the dual impact of technology, noting that while it enables instant communication and connects people in remote areas, digital connectivity does not necessarily translate into emotional closeness. She observed a decline in face-to-face conversation and raised concerns about curated, idealised identities on social media that create unrealistic expectations and erode trust.
Digital transformation and business leader Zeib Khwaja focused on the younger generation, noting that greater access to information has helped young people express their identities and creativity with more confidence, even as constant digital stimulation has reduced patience for delay. She called for intergenerational learning, digital literacy without judgement, and dedicated spaces for family interaction.
Consultant psychologist Dr. Rahila Khan examined the emotional toll of excessive screen time, arguing that the real concern is not the number of hours spent online but what that time replaces. She warned that reliance on likes and followers for validation can fuel anxiety, insecurity and FOMO, and recommended technology-free spaces, time in nature, and keeping moments such as family meals and grief private.
Psychologist and career counsellor Dr. Onkush Verma said that while AI can offer information and suggestions, it cannot replace empathy, companionship and human touch, and stressed the importance of stories and reflection in shaping values.
The discussion, moderated by Dr. Humaira Noorain, concluded that maintaining a healthy relationship with technology is a shared responsibility among individuals, parents, educators and institutions, with adults encouraged to model good digital habits themselves. Speakers agreed that the future should be defined not by smarter machines alone, but by humanity’s ability to remain responsible, compassionate and thoughtful in using them.
