‘Childhood needs guidance, not algorithms’: Sonu Sood reacts to Ghaziabad minors deaths

Actor Sonu Sood has reacted to the death of three minor sisters in Ghaziabad, urging urgent action on children’s exposure to social media and online gaming. The girls, aged 12, 14 and 16, died after jumping from the ninth floor of their residential building on Wednesday.

Taking to X, Sonu described the incident as deeply disturbing and avoidable. “Three young girls lost their lives in Ghaziabad today. Not to violence. Not to poverty. But to the unseen pressure of online gaming and digital addiction,” he wrote, calling for collective responsibility.

The actor reiterated his long standing concern over unrestricted digital access for minors. “I’ve raised my voice before, and I’ll say it again. Social media and online gaming must be restricted for children under 16, except for education. Childhood needs guidance, not algorithms,” Sonu added.

He stressed that the issue should not be reduced to outrage alone. “Care, not constant screens. This isn’t about blame. It’s about protection, before it’s too late. Let this not become another headline we forget. It’s time to act,” he concluded.

According to police officials, the three sisters were heavily addicted to a Korean online task based love game. The incident occurred in the early hours at a high rise apartment complex in Ghaziabad, sending shockwaves through the locality.

The girls lived with their father, a forex trader, and their mothers. Police stated that the eldest girl was born to the father’s first wife, while the two younger girls were from his second marriage. The family had not reported any prior conflicts.

Assistant Police Commissioner Atul Kumar Singh said preliminary findings point towards an intense obsession with the online game, which developed during and after the Covid 19 pandemic. The addiction reportedly altered the girls’ behaviour, daily routines and self perception over time.

Investigators also noted concerns around schooling. Despite being 16, the eldest girl was studying in class four, and all three sisters were said to be irregular in attending school. Police continue to investigate the incident. Authorities are also examining digital activity records to better understand the circumstances preceding the tragic deaths fully.