Singapore – 2024.
What began as a quiet evening in a suburban apartment ended in tragedy. A 22-year-old man fatally stabbed his father after a heated argument about a mobile application the son had been addicted to for months.
The dispute reportedly started when the father, concerned about his son’s increasing isolation and erratic behavior, deleted a financial app that the young man had been using excessively. The son, who claimed he was earning money through the app, saw the act as a betrayal. Within minutes, a family disagreement turned into a crime scene.
A Digital Addiction That Turned Deadly
According to investigators, the mobile app wasn’t just a game or social platform — it was part of an online trading system where the son had lost a significant amount of money. His father, a retired technician, discovered the losses and tried to intervene.
Neighbors recalled hearing shouting, followed by a loud crash and silence. When police arrived, they found the father with multiple stab wounds near the kitchen doorway. The son was detained at the scene, holding the same phone that had sparked the argument.
Inside the Mind of Obsession
Psychologists later described the case as a tragic example of digital dependency leading to emotional breakdown.
Dr. Elaine Wong, a behavioral specialist in Singapore, explained:
“Many young adults form deep emotional attachments to online platforms. When access is threatened — especially by family — it can trigger extreme emotional responses.”
The son reportedly told officers, “He destroyed everything I built,” referring to his deleted app data. Investigators believe the murder was not premeditated but driven by sudden rage and loss of control.
A Family Torn Apart
The mother, who was away visiting relatives, said the father had planned to speak calmly to their son that evening about his spending habits. Instead, she returned to find her home sealed off by police tape.
Relatives described the young man as quiet but increasingly withdrawn since the beginning of 2023, when he began using several money-making apps that promised fast returns.
A family friend said:
“He wasn’t violent. He just changed. Everything revolved around that phone.”
Beyond the Headlines
The case reignited national debate about the psychological impact of mobile addiction and online financial scams in Southeast Asia.
Authorities in Singapore and Indonesia have since warned parents to stay alert to behavioral changes in young adults involved with high-risk trading or gambling apps.
In the end, a simple phone — meant to connect families — became the instrument that divided one forever.