BENGALURU, 12 MARCH

Growing up in India, most children have experienced strict parenting — curfews, limited access to mobile phones, strict rules against dating, and a firm stance against smoking or drinking.

However, for Gen Z (those born between 1997-2012) and Gen Alpha parents (born between 2010-2014), the challenges have evolved. The rise of social media, unrestricted access to online content, and increasing influence of technology have made parenting teenagers more complex than ever.

While some parents justify tracking their kids out of concern, mental health experts warn of its negative impact.

Priyanka MB, Founder & Senior Psychologist at Inspiron Psychological Wellbeing Center, calls this helicopter parenting — an excessive control approach that can erode trust and autonomy. “Constant surveillance damages the parent-child relationship,” she says.

So why are parents seeking external help instead of communicating with their children?

Deepak MD, founder of Aim Detective Agency, Bengaluru, shares a case where a teenage boy’s behaviour — returning home late, avoiding conversations, and becoming physically lean—led his parents to hire detectives. The investigation revealed he was involved in substance abuse. “Parents had tried speaking to him but failed, leaving them with no other option,” he explains.

Legal Concerns over Snooping

Naman Jain reveals that some investigations involve installing software bugs on phones or placing hidden devices in rooms and vehicles to monitor conversations. Reacting to this, Advocate Vinay says, “For children under 18, surveillance remains a grey area, but bugging is not legal. While reasonable monitoring is acceptable, invasive spying violates fundamental rights.”

Most detective stories involve teens aged 13–19. Advocate Vinay warns that spying on children over 18 violates their right to privacy. “There is no specific law on parental surveillance, but the right to privacy judgment protects autonomy, informational privacy, and the right to make choices.”

Many parents strongly criticise the practice of hiring detectives, calling it highly inappropriate.

Rekha Mallan, a Bengaluru-based mother of two teen daughters, acknowledges that child safety is a major concern for any parent but believes surveillance is not the solution. She says, “Trust, open conversations, and guidance go a long way in helping children navigate challenges. Instead of spying, we should focus on building a relationship where they feel safe to share, seek help, and make the right choices.”

Dominique Das, another Bengaluru-based parent with a pre-teen daughter says, “Hiring detectives is too much. I’d rather put an AirTag in my daughter’s bag to ensure her safety. We should focus on teaching our kids the right values and helping them differentiate between right and wrong.”

Teenagers call it an invasion of privacy

Kumkum, a 12th-grade student, expresses frustration. “Imagine hanging out with friends, unaware that someone is secretly tracking your every move. Instead of spying, why can’t parents just talk to us and build trust? Treating us like suspects only pushes us away.”

Medha, a media studies student, believes parental anxiety is driving this behaviour. “I understand why parents worry. But hiring detectives to snoop on children can lead to trust issues in the long run.”

The cost of snooping

The cost of hiring a private investigator varies depending on the case. Deepak MD, founder of Aim Detective Agency in Bengaluru, explains, “Daily charges range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, while weekly packages start at Rs 35,000 depending on the complexity of the case. However, we do offer concessions to clients from humble financial backgrounds.” He added that his agency handles an average of 5–10 such cases daily.