Kannur: As many as 385 children were freed from excessive use of mobile phones and internet over a period of 15 months, thanks to the Kerala Police initiative Digital De-Addiction (D-DAD) programme. So far, 613 children have sought the help of D-DAD centres. This is from April 2023 to June 2024.

To free children from online games that take lives like Blue Whale and various online rackets that prey on children. The project was started in March, 2023 under the leadership of the social policing department of the Kerala Police.

Currently D-DAD centres are functioning in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Thrissur, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The project is in collaboration with the Departments of Health, Women and Child Development and Education. The centre is headed by a psychologist and a project coordinator. Apart from them there are police coordinators. ASP is the nodal officer.

Most of the complaints received by the D-Dad are children's excessive use of mobile phones, addiction to online games, visiting porn sites, spending more time on social media and losing money through fake shopping sites.

Free counselling

Free counselling will be provided at the centres for digital addicts up to 18 years of age. Parents can directly bring their children to the centres. Also, with the help of student police cadets and teachers, such children are identified and counselled. The level of digital addiction of the children is estimated with the help of an internet addiction test.

Children will be subjected to smartphone addiction tests. Therapy, counselling and guidance are then provided. If the problems cannot be resolved through counselling, the help of mental health experts will be sought. Information will be confidential. For further details, one can dial 9497900200.