An editorial-style illustration shows an Indian teenage girl absorbed in her smartphone, highlighting youth phone addiction and excessive screen time.
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Ahmedabad : Parents of a 17-year-old girl sought the intervention of Abhayam women helpline counsellors after discovering that she had been chatting on social media with users significantly older than her and had reportedly met some of them in person. About a month ago, the family reportedly learnt that the teenager was in a relationship with a 26-year-old man and had met him without the family’s knowledge.
The call came from a well-to-do family in the eastern part of the city that had provided a mobile phone to the girl for educational purposes, according to counsellors. “The girl assured her mother that she would focus on her studies and reduce her social media use, but the activity continued,” a counsellor said. Her family subsequently confiscated her phone, but she managed to obtain another device, counsellors said. The parents were also counselled to create an environment where she feels comfortable discussing her concerns and seeking guidance from them,” a counsellor said.
Concern arose after her mother found her awake late at night and checked her phone, where she allegedly discovered multiple social media accounts being used to interact with other users. The revelation led to a major altercation at home, following which the girl allegedly threatened to end her life. Officials added that during the counselling process, the girl locked herself inside a room and was reluctant to engage. Counsellors later spoke with her and explained the relevant laws and legal provisions concerning online interactions and relationships involving minors. “After extensive counselling, the girl agreed to heed her parents’ advice and put such activities on hold.