The past few weeks were nervous, stressful, and filled with panic as tensions along the India-Pakistan border intensified. However, what was specifically alarming was the proliferation of fake videos and fabricated content, warmongering on national TV and social media sites. There was no way to cease the tirade of misinformation and fake news that went ablaze across the country.

It was exhausting for the countrymen, because when national integrity was at stake, every exclusive update on the India-Pakistan conflict was far away from being safe. Information was being bombarded, and little did we know if our emotions were just pawns for rising Television Rating Points (TRP).

While sensationalism may drive clicks and viewership, the psychological toll it takes, especially on impressionable teenagers and young adults, is significant and often overlooked.

Possibly, the most vulnerable during these tough times were teenagers, or the ‘Gen Z’, who are mostly always hooked online. Speaking to Mathrubhumi, Dr Shruti Khare, Psychologist and Psychotherapist from Pune, said that, unlike previous generations, today's generation consumes content from multiple digital platforms at once, often without clear filters to assess its credibility.

“Extended exposure to war news can deeply affect one's mental and emotional health. Youngsters can become perpetually anxious about the safety or other effects. Many youngsters feel uncertain about the future, or even desensitised to violence, because it’s all they see on their feeds. This constant exposure can take a toll, leading to stress, sleep disturbances, and an overall sense of helplessness with emotional fatigue,” Dr Khare added.

What also raised alarms was how the audience, especially teenagers, got polarised after consuming fake content and began engaging in nasty verbal spats. Lopsang D Lama, a Psychiatric Social Worker from the Central Institute of Psychiatry in Ranchi, said that with the increasing access to social media, young adults and teenagers are being bombarded with immense information, especially during hours of national crisis.

He said, “ Though it is important to consume necessary information, most news content surfacing online, since the Pahalgam attack on April 22, proved to have come from unreliable sources. Such content triggered the public in general and planted revengeful thoughts, especially among the youth.”

However, one needs to ask why fake news is circulated. Speaking on this, Shailesh Umate, psychiatrist and sexologist from Mumbai, said that fake news is created to create surprise and shock in society.

“Many people consider it a fact and believe in it. They try to explain it to others, and thus it becomes a rumour. It causes uncertainty and fear in the mind. After this, either the person realises that it's fake and tries to find out the truth or avoids the source of the information (the particular news channel). The person could also become more anxious and worried, impacting their mental health adversely. In the case of Gen Z, it might have a long-lasting impact of hatred and panic,” Dr Umate added.

Speaking about the impacts of this curse, Dr Maitri Thakker, Clinical Psychologist at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, said that continuous exposure to disturbing or misleading news can heighten stress, amplify anxiety, and contribute to a pervasive sense of fear and helplessness. “It can also fuel mistrust in institutions, disrupt emotional regulation, and affect their worldview and sense of safety. For some, it may even trigger vicarious trauma—feeling emotionally impacted despite not being directly involved,” she added.

Now, the question arises as to how teenagers and young adults can manage the stress and anxiety caused by this constant bombardment of news? Well, it is indeed a daunting task, but NOT an impossible one. Dr Thakker suggested a few ways to combat this menace.

  • Curate Your News Sources: Follow only verified, reliable outlets. Avoid sensational headlines or unverified forwards on social media and WhatsApp.
  • Set Boundaries with Media: Allocate specific times for news updates rather than continuous scrolling. Avoid checking the news before bedtime.
  • Practice Grounding and Mindfulness: Techniques such as deep breathing, body scans, or mindful walking can regulate stress responses.
  • Stay Physically Active: Exercise is a proven buffer against anxiety and helps discharge built-up tension.
  • Open Up: Speak to someone you trust—a parent, teacher, counselor, or therapist—about what you’re feeling. Emotional validation plays a huge role in reducing internal distress.
  • Unfollow or Mute: It’s okay to unfollow pages or people that amplify fear or misinformation.
  • Be a Calm Anchor: Your emotional state sets the tone. If you remain calm and informed, it helps your child feel grounded and safe.
  • Normalise Seeking Help: If your teen shows signs of prolonged distress, such as withdrawal, irritability, or panic, encourage professional counselling. Present it as a strength, not a stigma.
  • A definite yet major role can also be played by parents during times of wars to keep their wards safe. Dr Shailesh Umate said that parents should exude confidence and calmness during times of national security crisis.

Here are a few suggestions for parents by Dr Umate:

  1. Try to instil courage in kids.
  2. Do not discuss news and war stuff all the time. Rather, limit it for a certain period.
  3. Engage with your child in physical games.
  4. If your child is curious to know about current affairs, dig up facts, confirm sources and only then inform him/her about it.

Lopsang D Lama said that it is usually the elders who transfer these fears and anxiety to the younger people in the house. He said, “A normal daily routine should be followed for the child to have a safe environment inside the household.”

Make “screen hygiene” a family motto, not a punishment: Parents might want to ban watching Instagram or YouTube at home, but this could only lead to them grasping similar content in hiding or outside the home, said Rima Bhandekar, Psychologist, Mpower, Aditya Birla Education Trust.

Bhandekar's advice for parents:

  • Discuss with them or learn from experts how to spot fake videos or deepfakes.
  • Learn and explain to them how misinformation spreads widely—and why it’s harmful.
  • Go out with them to do something simple and relaxing for both of you.

Bhandekar also said that as a parent, it is quite easy to say, “Keep away from social media images or war news”, or “The current scenario doesn’t concern you, just focus on your studies.” Instead, what may work is gently asking:
“How are you feeling after seeing that video?” “Does this kind of news bother you?”

Mathrubhumi also spoke to a few teenagers to know about their experiences in the weeks gone by. Here are a few excerpts:

Tista Das (19), Student, Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati: Since the Pahalgam attack, I was emotionally distressed. It became tough to witness such hatred aimed towards a particular religion. My faith in mainstream news media has hit rock bottom, credit goes to the amount of fake and fabricated news being aired by news anchors. I genuinely think that GenZ is quite smart, and we were quick to differentiate the truth from the lies. We only trusted reliable sources and helped our parents grasp the same.

Parth Paliwal (21), Student, Data Science and Analytics: Personally speaking, I was not affected by it. I do not watch primetime news. So, I solely relied on the official government statements and did not let the politics of hatred win.

Md Hanif (19), Student, Jadavpur University: Since the Pahalgam attack, I was subjected to constant Islamophobic slurs, solely because of my religious identity. All thanks to fake news, videos, and content being circulated like wildfire on TV screens and the internet. I mostly stayed silent so that I could take care of my mental health. However, most people mistook my silence for support towards Pakistan. In times of crisis, fake news triggers even sane minds.

Aarav Modi (13), Student, Gujarat: To be honest, I did believe what an anchor on a leading news channel said and shared the news with my father, only to find out later that it’s absolutely fake. Since then, I have stopped watching television and do not believe in '’viral news content.'