Anyone who learned of the tragedy of the three sisters who took their own lives in Ghaziabad, India, after their parents confiscated their mobile phones, could not simply move on without reflecting, if only for a moment.

The young girls, ages 12, 14, and 16, jumped from the balcony of their ninth-floor apartment in the early morning hours of February 4 after leaving a message addressed to their father in which they explained, with painful sincerity, that they could not give up their digital obsession in order to live. This was reported by the EFE news agency and relayed by CubaSí.

This heartbreaking event prompts reflection within the context of a society increasingly mediated by digital devices.

Since 2019, the World Health Organization has recognized "gaming disorder" in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), describing it as a loss of control over gaming that significantly disrupts personal, family, social, or educational activities for at least 12 months.

Beyond extreme cases such as this one, the most rigorous mental health research has documented how problematic use of screens and social media is associated with a range of harmful effects in children and adolescents.

Recent epidemiological studies show that a considerable percentage of adolescents exhibit symptoms of problematic social media and gaming use, characterized by an inability to control time spent, withdrawal from other activities, and adverse effects on subjective well-being.

The latest report from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, which surveyed nearly 280,000 young people ages 11, 13, and 15 across 44 countries, shows that approximately 11 percent of adolescents display problematic patterns of social media use—defined as behaviors difficult to control that generate negative consequences in their daily lives. This figure reflects an increase from 2018 (7 percent) to 2022 (11 percent), suggesting that such behaviors are on the rise.

More than time, the impact

Unlike the simplistic narrative that equates "more screen time" with certain harm, evidence suggests that what matters most are compulsive patterns and the impact on daily life.

This occurs when digital use displaces sleep, physical activity, academic performance, or interpersonal relationships, paving the way for psychological risks.

Another study that followed thousands of adolescents showed that young people with increasing patterns of addictive mobile phone, social media, or video game use were two to three times more likely to report suicidal behavior or suicidal ideation than their peers with more balanced usage.

This distinction is crucial because it is not merely about the number of hours spent in front of a screen, but about the quality of the bond they establish with technology and how it can become a substitute for affective, social, and cognitive needs left unmet in the real world.

From a neurobiological perspective, research points to possible structural changes in the brains of adolescents with digital addiction, including alterations in regions associated with impulse control and reward processing.

The most robust neuroscientific research suggests that digital addiction in adolescents may be associated with subtle changes in the development of their still-maturing brains.

Changes have been observed in areas of the prefrontal lobe, the region responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and emotional regulation. In this regard, some neuroimaging studies describe reduced cortical thickness or diminished functional connectivity in these areas, which could translate into greater impulsivity and difficulty self-regulating usage time.

While these findings require further replication and interpretive caution, they offer insight into how continuous interaction with highly reinforcing stimuli can shape developing brain circuits and potentiate compulsive behaviors.

Research is also being conducted on the indirect impact on the brain through chronic sleep deprivation, which is very common among adolescents with digital addiction. Sleeping less and sleeping poorly affects key processes such as memory consolidation and emotional regulation.

It is reversible, but…

Specialists agree that many of these changes appear to be partially reversible if usage patterns are corrected and healthy habits are restored, reinforcing the importance of prevention and early intervention.

Thus, parents, educators, and policymakers face the complex challenge of balancing the educational and communicative opportunities inherent in digital technology with the protection of children's and adolescents' emotional and cognitive development.

The issue is not to demonize devices, but to promote digital literacy, affective supervision, and healthy boundaries.

Solutions also lie in strengthening support networks that allow young people to engage with the digital world in meaningful ways, without it replacing or eroding real-life connections and healthy lifestyle habits.

The Ghaziabad tragedy, still under investigation and analysis, should serve as yet another call not to underestimate the psychological and social impacts of digital addiction at early ages.

It is not merely a matter of technology, but of how technology, in the absence of appropriate guidance and limits, can amplify preexisting psychological vulnerabilities and, in extreme cases, contribute to fatal consequences.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff