Tamil Nadu Teen Dies by Suicide After Parents Scold Him for Excessive Phone Usage

In a disturbing incident from Tamil Nadu, a 13-year-old boy named Siddharth allegedly died by suicide after his parents scolded him for spending too much time on his mobile phone.

Alleged Sequence of Events

The incident reportedly took place on June 17 in Tiruppur district. Siddharth, a Class 7 student at a private school, came home and immediately started using his phone.

Sources say this had become a regular habit, and he was addicted to mobile gaming. His parents, concerned about the constant usage, scolded him once again.

Soon after, he allegedly consumed pesticide without telling anyone. His health deteriorated quickly, and he collapsed on his bed.

On finding him in that condition, his parents rushed him to the nearby Dharapuram Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Police Investigation Revealed

An FIR was registered at Alangiyam Police Station, and while police are still investigating, they haven’t found any other reason apart from Siddharth’s reported gaming addiction.

Siddharth was the son of Sathish Kumar and lived in Ayyan Thottam. He had a younger brother, aged 2.

Increase in Similar Incidents

This case adds to a rising number of troubling incidents involving children and teens taking drastic steps over mobile phone-related conflicts.

• In April, an 11-year-old girl died by suicide after her mother took away her phone.

• A 15-year-old girl in Bengaluru took her life after being told to focus on her studies.

• Recently, a 19-year-old boy allegedly killed his father after repeated scoldings over social media use and online gaming.

Together, these incidents reflect a worrying trend where digital disagreements between parents and children are escalating into something far more tragic.

Where This Is Headed

Several studies show that overuse of mobile phones in teenagers is linked to increased depression, anxiety, and reduced attention span.

In this case, too, a screen took more than just time—it took a life. These aren’t isolated stories anymore. They’re warnings. The signs are everywhere—but are we still looking the other way?

What starts as casual screen time can quickly spiral into something harder to control. And when no one steps in early enough, the cost can be far too heavy for the child and the family left behind.

(Input From Various Sources)

(Rehash/Pooja Bansal/MSM)