- Sacred Bonds Broken by Screens
- The Silent Spread of Social Media Poison
Article Today, Hyderabad: In a shocking case that has shaken Hyderabad, a teenage girl allegedly killed her mother in cold blood. The incident exposes the dark, unchecked influence of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. What once connected people is now accused of tearing families apart, even pushing children to commit unthinkable crimes.
Sacred Bonds Broken by Screens
The crime took place in a middle-class household in Hyderabad. The accused, a tenth-grade student, is said to have plotted her mother’s murder over objections to her alleged relationship with a man she met online. According to police, the girl had developed a secret connection through Instagram. Her mother, opposing the relationship, became an “obstacle” in her view. This led to a tragic decision—removing her mother to protect the affair. The incident has triggered outrage and sorrow across Telangana. It has also raised serious concerns about how far digital influence can distort young minds.
The Silent Spread of Social Media Poison
This is not an isolated case. Across India and globally, social media platforms are increasingly linked to emotional distress, violence, and criminal behavior among youth. Experts believe that the unfiltered access to harmful content—ranging from explicit visuals to glorified violence—is fueling impulsive, dangerous decisions. These platforms have become arenas where attention, fame, and profit are valued above empathy, restraint, or truth.
Foreign Governments Act; India Yet to Respond
Several countries have already introduced strict regulations. In China, social media use for children under 18 is limited to a few hours per day. Platforms like WeChat and Douyin operate under government monitoring. Children are barred from using them between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. In the European Union, data protection rules prevent children under 16 from opening accounts without parental consent. Platforms must remove violent or explicit content using both AI tools and human monitoring.
Australia Sets Age Bar, Demands Accountability
In 2024, Australia banned children under 16 from accessing social media. Platforms must also take down harmful content within 24 hours. These measures stem from growing cases of online harm, cyberbullying, and violence influenced by digital interactions.
India’s Regulatory Vacuum
Despite the alarming rise in such cases, India lacks strong laws to govern children’s exposure to social media. The existing Information Technology Rules recommend guidelines but offer little enforcement. As a result, platforms continue to operate with limited accountability. Lawmakers and civil society groups are now urging immediate reforms to protect the mental and emotional health of the country’s youth.
A Wake-Up Call for Society
This Hyderabad tragedy serves as a painful reminder. Technology, when unregulated, can destroy the very relationships it promises to connect. As India advances digitally, it must also evolve morally and legally. Otherwise, screens may continue to reflect not connection—but blood, pain, and irreversible loss.
