Your teenager’s smartphone might seem like harmless entertainment, but a tragic case in India reveals how digital obsession can turn deadly.
Three sisters—ages 12, 14, and 16—jumped to their deaths from their ninth-floor apartment in Ghaziabad early Tuesday morning after their father restricted access to their phones. The girls had developed what police describe as severe addiction to a Korean task-based interactive game, K-pop culture, and social media platforms where they used Korean names like Maria, Aliza, and Cindy.
Digital Dependency Reaches Breaking Point
The sisters hadn’t attended school in 2-3 years, spending their days immersed in Korean content and mobile games.
According to police reports, Nishika (16), Prachi (14), and Pakhi (12) left an eight-page suicide note apologizing to their father while detailing their obsession with Korean culture. The diary revealed their desperate desire to visit Korea and complete tasks in what authorities describe as a Korean interactive gaming app.
When father Chetan Kumar, reportedly struggling with debt as a stock trader, recently confiscated their phones, the restriction triggered what authorities call a mental health crisis. Family arguments over excessive screen time had become frequent, according to local reports.
Investigation Uncovers Digital Footprint
Police are analyzing the girls’ phones to identify the specific game and social media activities that consumed their lives.
DCP Nimish Patil noted the sisters were “highly addicted to mobile phone usage,” but investigators haven’t confirmed which specific game or platform played a role. The seized devices may reveal whether gaming mechanics deliberately encouraged dangerous behavior or if the tragedy resulted from withdrawal symptoms when access was suddenly removed.
Forensic analysis continues as authorities work to understand how digital entertainment evolved into life-consuming obsession for these isolated teenagers.
Warning Signs Parents Miss
The COVID pandemic accelerated screen dependency among isolated teenagers, making addiction harder to recognize.
This case illuminates how digital entertainment can evolve from hobby to obsession without parents realizing the severity. Your family’s screen time battles might feel familiar—but recognizing when restrictions could trigger crisis requires understanding addiction’s grip on developing minds.
The Ghaziabad tragedy forces uncomfortable questions about parental controls, gaming design ethics, and mental health support in our hyperconnected world. Mental health experts emphasize that sudden digital restrictions, while sometimes necessary, should include professional support when addiction signs appear.
