Outrage over ’Cone of Shame’ for child’s cellphone use

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — An incident involving a man from Shaanxi province putting a "cone of shame" on his 5-year-old granddaughter to discourage her from using a cellphone has sparked controversy in China and Taiwan.

The South China Morning Post reported the case, leading to online criticism labeling it as child abuse and disrespectful.

The girl's mother explained that the child initially resisted wearing the neck collar, as it obstructed her phone use and was typically meant for dogs. Despite the resistance, the mother claimed it was effective, reducing the girl's desire to play with the phone after a few days.

The viral video on Weibo elicited mixed reactions, with some finding it comically pragmatic, while most expressed outrage and deemed it abusive. This incident has ignited a broader discussion on parenting and educational methods, highlighting the challenge of managing technology use among children.