Kerala Teen Dies by Suicide After Korean Online Friend's Death; Parents Unaware of Relationship

• Adithya, a 16-year-old student from Chottanikkara, Kerala, died by suicide, leaving a four-page note.
• The note revealed her deep grief over the death of her 'Korean online friend', whom she met on Instagram.
• Her family was unaware of the online friendship but noticed her increasing consumption of 'Korean content' (K-Dramas, K-Pop).
• Psychologists highlight reasons teenagers hide mental trauma: fear of judgment, digital gap, parental overreaction, and image concerns.
• Experts advise parents to listen, offer unconditional love, monitor behavior, and teach children about virtual vs. real-world differences.

Why It Matters: A Kerala teen's suicide over an online friend's death highlights the hidden digital lives of children and the need for parental understanding.