In a shocking case from Gujarat, the parents of a 16-year-old girl hired four bouncers to control her excessive screen use.The bouncers reportedly work in two shifts, monitoring the teenager round the clock to prevent her from accessing a mobile phone. The family is said to be spending nearly ₹65,000 for this arrangement.
Doctors revealed that the girl had developed a severe addiction to her phone and social media, often turning violent when her device was taken away. She was also heavily involved in posting photos online and interacting with strangers.Her rising screen time deeply concerned her parents, especially after she began sneaking out to meet people she had connected with online.
Attempts to restrict her phone use triggered extreme reactions, including anger and destruction of household items.In one incident, she allegedly smashed the television, threw a microwave from their apartment, and even attacked her mother.
Mental health experts say such extreme cases highlight a growing trend of serious behavioural issues linked to digital addiction, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.