Experts advise parents to be extra vigilant on children's online activities

Prayagraj: With the rise of dangerous and sensational content on social media platforms, the experts caution parents to be extra vigilant about what their children watch online.

Imitation of risky stunts and ‘tricks' can lead to serious, even life-threatening, consequences as was recently witnessed in a village of Kunda tehsil in Pratapgarh, where an 11-year-old boy fell unconscious after a teenager tried to mimic a YouTube stunt.

The incident occurred during a wedding gathering when children were playing inside a house. A teenager, in a bid to impress his friends, pressed the carotid arteries, the major blood vessels supplying blood to the brain, on the neck of a 11-year-old boy. Within seconds, the boy collapsed. Initially assumed to be fainting, the situation turned critical when the boy failed to regain consciousness.

Alarmed by his deteriorating condition, his family rushed him to a neurosurgeon in Prayagraj. Dr Prakash Khaitan, who treated the boy , said, "The boy was brought to hospital last week unconscious and having seizures. On enquiring about the case history, his family members revealed that while playing, a teenager imitating a social media trick, pressed the two carotid nerves below the ear lobes, blocking blood supply to the brain after which the boy fell unconscious."

According to Dr Khaitan, MRI results confirmed that the compression of the carotid arteries disrupted oxygen supply to the boy's brain, triggering seizures and temporary weakness in his limbs. "After five days of treatment, the child has now started walking.."

The boy's father recalled the harrowing moment. "When we went inside the room, my son was unconscious and was having seizures. He was not able to drink water or stand on his legs."

Psychiatrist Dr Rakesh Paswan of Colvin Hospital added that a growing number of children are being exposed to violent and hazardous online games. He urged parents to supervise mobile usage closely until children are at least 18 years old and to encourage outdoor activities.

"We appeal to the parents to encourage outdoor activities of their wards to ensure a healthier lifestyle," said Dr Paswan.