[Post 1463] Hikikomori In Singapore: What Happens When Teens Shut Out The World? | Shutdown - Part 1/3

Summary

Across Singapore, more and more youths are withdrawing from the outside world, some refusing to leave their rooms for years. As parents struggle to understand what happened to their children, SHUTDOWN gains unprecedented access into the lives of four Singaporean teenagers who are experiencing different stages of social withdrawal.

The Chuahs’ 15-year-old son lives in near-total isolation, emerging only when everyone else is asleep. After nearly two years, his parents are emotionally exhausted and desperate for answers. 

19-year-old Danzel battles severe depression and anxiety, and the presence of cameras pushes him close to a breaking point. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Shaista and 15-year-old Zhen Yi attempt cautious steps back into society with the support of social workers, as they navigate moderate and mild withdrawal.

Together, their stories reveal the hidden emotional toll of isolation – not just on the youth, but on the families trying to hold on to them.