Content now like ‘roti-sabzi': Anupam Mittal calls out ‘thumb warrior' generation

Indian Express

27-05-2025

Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com and a judge on Shark Tank India, has shared a heartfelt post on LinkedIn that is resonating with many, especially parents. He opened up about how technology, social media, and artificial intelligence-driven content are reshaping our daily lives, often in ways we don't even notice.
What struck a chord with many was a story about his seven-year-old daughter: her day might begin innocently with Peppa Pig, but before long, she's pulled into what Mittal described as a 'vortex of glitchy animation and algorithmic chaos'.
This isn't just about kids, though. He pointed out that adults aren't immune either. Every day, we're passively consuming AI-packaged quotes and shallow content as if it's become part of our routine–'like roti-sabzi,' he said.
Mittal's message isn't a rant against technology. He's still optimistic about India's potential, confidently stating, 'Yes, I believe the next wave of global entrepreneurs will come from India. I have put my money on it.' But his optimism is laced with concern. He warns that we might also be creating a culture dominated by distraction–what he calls 'thumb warriors,' people who are 'overstimulated, under-inspired' and oddly comfortable with it.
Mittal reflected on how India 'leapfrogged straight to Reels' unlike the West, which transitioned slowly from the radio to television to the internet. With a billion smartphones in our hands, we've turned vast intellectual potential into endless hours of short-form entertainment–prank videos, choreographed dances, and a deluge of algorithm-driven 'wisdom', according to him.
It's this shift that worries Mittal most. 'We're raising a generation that doesn't play. Teens that don't talk. Adults that don't think – just scroll,' he observed, adding that as AI evolves, this constant stimulation was only going to get more intense. It's both a massive opportunity and, as he puts it, a 'Black Mirror episode no one signed up for'.
Mittal made it clear that he's not offering a solution or asking people to delete their apps. He's speaking as a concerned father who wants people to pause and reflect. In the end, he leaves readers with a question that lingers, 'How do we make sure the India we're building doesn't forget to look up?'
The post went viral on Linkedin and many shared their views. A user wrote, 'Yes, there's overstimulation. But not all scrolling is mindless. Many are creating, learning, building audiences, even launching businesses all from their phones. This generation isn't lost they're evolving differently. Fast. Visually. Algorithmically. I believe, our job isn't to fight the scroll it's to guide what fills it. Let's not write off a billion brains too quickly. Let's help them channel it.'
Another person agreed with Mittal and wrote, 'Couldn't agree more! I see people around me, staring into their mobile screens (more like lost in the loop of endless scrolling). We need to take conscious efforts to pull away from this vortex from time to time.'
A third person commented, 'Absolutely agree. Deleting social media isn't the real solution. But drowning in AI wisdom all day is just like digging into the sea: endless, overwhelming, and often directionless. After all, even too much roti-sabzi can be harmful.'