From Digital Distraction to Social Capital: Repurposing Social Media for Family-Led Sustainable Development in India @2047

As India marches toward the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the family unit remains the bedrock of its socio-economic stability. However, the rapid proliferation of digital platforms has introduced a paradox. While enhancing global connectivity, it has often led to ‘digital distraction’ and the fragmentation of traditional family values. This paper, rooted in my PhD topic- 'Impact of Social Media on Family Values: A Study', transitions from a problem-centric analysis to a solution-oriented pathway for sustainable development. The study argues that social media must be repurposed from a tool of passive consumption into a catalyst for Social Capital. By integrating primary data on changing familial interactions, the research identifies three transformative pathways for 2047. First, the Socio-Economic Pathway explores how family-led digital entrepreneurship can drive inclusive growth. Second, the Linguistic Pathway demonstrates social media’s potential to preserve vernacular heritage and transmit intergenerational values, ensuring that technological progress does not lead to cultural erosion. Third, the Scientific Pathway proposes a framework for ‘Value-Based Algorithmic Ethics’ to safeguard mental well-being and domestic cohesion of the Indian society. The findings suggest that treating social media as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for households in India could enable more effective leverage of the ‘Demographic Dividend’. The paper concludes that the sustainable transformation of India @2047 depends not only on technological adoption but also on the strategic re-bonding of the Indian family in the digital age. It provides policy recommendations for ‘Family-Centric Digital Literacy’ to ensure that the impact of social media shifts from eroding values to fortifying India's social fabric.