Vadodara: Instagram or social media addiction, once considered a major issue primarily affecting teenagers, is now impacting senior citizens as well. A 62-year-old woman from Manjalpur was found skipping supper, losing sleep, and having emotional outbursts, causing concern in her family. The reason was an excessive addiction to watching Instagram reels.

The elderly woman’s social media usage had escalated to an alarming level, particularly fixated on reels posted by a specific influencer. Watching his videos had become part of her nightly routine, and she struggled to sleep without them. She actively engaged by liking, commenting, and anxiously waiting for replies—often becoming distraught and refusing food when her comments went unnoticed.

Worried about her behavior, her son and daughter-in-law reached out to the 181 Abhayam women’s helpline. It is also noteworthy that attempts to delete Instagram from her phone only worsened her condition, leading to depressive episodes and arguments with the family. Eventually, a team of counsellors from the helpline visited and worked with the woman and her family to help address the issue. DeshGujarat