A 16-year-old allegedly died by suicide enraged at his parents after he was stopped from spending time on mobile.

The teenager was identified as Aman Sahu, a Class 10 student, and resident of Newali village. The teenager was alone at home at the time of the incident.

According to police, the teenager had been spending considerable time playing games on his mobile. As a result, his studies had suffered. Concerned, his parents enrolled him in extra classes and even took away Aman’s phone to help him focus on studies. Upset at the restriction, Aman hung himself. 

Spending excess time on mobile is hampering the mental health of teenagers and young adults. On social media, short-form video platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are increasingly popular among teens. Due to cheaper data rates compared to the rest of the world, the penetration of the Internet, teenagers in both urban and rural settings have become susceptible to becoming addicted to their smartphones, mindlessly scrolling on short-format videos to pass their time.

The fast-paced videos create a ‘swipe-reward’ cycle, triggering a dopamine rush that can lead to addiction and shorter attention spans among them. Constant exposure to perfect, filtered lives fuels comparison, lowering self-esteem, especially when teens measure themselves against influencer beauty standards, and the modern pressures to appear a certain way or to amass ‘reach’ in the digital era.

Late-night scrolling disrupts sleep, worsening anxiety, depression, and school performance, while likes and comments can turn into self-doubt, amplifying cyberbullying and stress.

Experts suggest teens use apps mindfully, noticing how content affects their mood, and set time limits, especially before bed. Following positive, diverse accounts and talking openly about social media pressures can also help teens build resilience and stay mentally healthy in the digital age.