For many parents today, managing a child’s screen time has become a daily struggle. Mobile phones and tablets are now deeply integrated into modern lifestyles, and children are spending increasing amounts of time consuming short-form videos, gaming content, and endless social media entertainment. While technology has made information easily accessible, it has also raised concerns about declining attention spans, reduced creativity, and excessive dependency on visual stimulation among children.

Amid these growing concerns, Pune-based startup GetExtra.in is attempting to introduce a different approach to children’s digital engagement - one that focuses less on watching and more on listening, imagining, and learning.

Founded in 2024 by young entrepreneur Arjun Apparao Jadhav, GetExtra.in is an audio storytelling platform designed for children and families. Instead of relying on visually addictive content formats, the platform uses audio stories centered around Indian history, mythology, inspirational personalities, self-development, and value-based learning.

The idea behind the platform emerged from a simple observation. According to Arjun, asking children to completely stay away from smartphones is no longer practical in today’s world. The bigger challenge is finding ways to make digital consumption healthier and more meaningful.

Coming from a farmer’s family in Maharashtra, Arjun says he grew up understanding both the strengths and dangers of technology. While digital platforms continue competing for user attention through faster and more addictive content formats, he believed there was a growing need for a calmer and more mindful form of engagement for children.

That thought eventually became the foundation of GetExtra.in.

Unlike video-based platforms that require constant visual attention, audio storytelling allows children to build imagination while listening. Parents can play stories during travel, bedtime, study breaks, or family time without increasing additional screen exposure. According to the platform’s vision, this balance between entertainment and learning is what makes audio content especially relevant for modern families.

The startup also taps into a deeper cultural connection. For generations, storytelling has played an important role in Indian households, where grandparents often passed down values, history, and life lessons through stories. GetExtra.in attempts to recreate that experience using modern technology and digital accessibility.

The platform’s content strategy focuses on creating educational yet engaging experiences rather than passive entertainment. Stories around mythology, historical figures, personal growth, and inspirational journeys are designed to encourage curiosity, concentration, and reflective thinking among children.

At a time when discussions around parenting increasingly include topics like digital detox, mindful consumption, and healthy technology habits, audio-based platforms are slowly gaining attention as alternatives to screen-heavy entertainment.

GetExtra.in positions itself within this emerging space by promoting the idea that technology itself is not the problem - the real issue lies in how it is consumed.

The startup’s journey also highlights the changing face of Indian entrepreneurship, where founders from rural and non-traditional backgrounds are entering the digital ecosystem with purpose-driven ideas. Rather than building another content platform focused purely on engagement metrics, Arjun’s approach has been centered around social impact and long-term behavioral change.

As India’s digital audience continues to expand across younger age groups, startups focused on healthier forms of content consumption are expected to gain relevance. GetExtra.in believes that audio storytelling can become one of the strongest tools for combining education, entertainment, imagination, and culture without contributing to excessive screen dependency.

For many parents searching for alternatives to endless scrolling and short-form video addiction, platforms like GetExtra.in may represent a growing shift towards more thoughtful digital experiences for children.