B’luru police chief calls on parents to cut children’s mobile usage

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda has urged the parents to keep a check on the children’s smartphone addiction.

Speaking about the recent case of a class 10 student who was allegedly forced to steal valuables worth Rs 41 lakh from his home to pay his blackmailers, the city police chief said that the parents should keep an eye on their children’s behaviour and their gaming activities with utmost care.

“Due to the ongoing trend of playing online games, children insist on getting their own mobile or play online games using their parent's phone. In any case, they develop an addiction which should be brought under control,” he said.

Apart from addiction, there are also cases of financial frauds and children purchasing online goodies for their games without the consent of their parents.

“Several games, most notably multiplayer mobile games, are equipped with facilities that allow players to make in-app and in-game purchases, for which, online payment through credit card, debit card, internet banking, is done by children without informing their parents,” Dayananda said.

Beyond education, kids who are handed smartphones, tablets or computers without even a moment’s hesitation are exposed to online entertainment and hitherto taboo subjects.