A 13-year-old boy in Qasbayer village in the Southern district of Pulwama has reportedly committed suicide following an argument over PUBG Mobile. Details about the incident are limited, but as per the report, the boy’s father had asked him to eat food and stop playing the game. He was found hanging in his house a few hours later. The report also notes that the boy also had an argument with this younger brother over the game, which could have also led to the incident. The locals are now asking for greater awareness regarding these games and their effect on the youth.
There has been a lot of debate on the addictive nature of these video games and the harm that comes from them. Earlier this months, there were reports of a 17-year-old who allegedly spent Rs 16 lakh in PUBG Mobile. The amount was used to purchase in-game currency, which was used to purchase in-game cosmetic items, passes and more. The boy managed to do so as he had access to his parent’s bank account. However, the money was reportedly set aside for his father’s medical expenses and their son’s future needs. The report added that the boy was set to work at a scooter repair shop to make him realise the value of hard-earned money.
Incidents like these highlight the importance of proper education and learning when it comes to dealing with video games. While developers need to create better tools to ensure the proper age limit in games as well as limit the money spent, it also up to parents and educators to inform kids about the dangers of video game addiction and peer pressure.