Dad Takes Son Into the Wilderness to Cure “Tech Addiction” – Nearly Gets Them Both Killed

 Some parents ground their kids, some take away the Wi-Fi password… but one dad in Brazil decided to go full “Bear Grylls” on his 13-year-old son. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go well.

The Disappearance That Sparked Panic

Mark Alexander Cummings Rogers, a 48-year-old American living in Brazil, thought the best way to cure his son’s love for technology was to drag him deep into the wilderness. Naturally, this ended with both of them being reported missing on August 28 in Balneário Camboriú, a coastal city in southern Brazil.

For nearly a week, authorities searched high and low. The only clue? Rogers’ abandoned Jeep and phone left near the forest. (Yes, he left his phone behind—because nothing says “serious about detox” like ditching your lifeline to civilization.)

Found in a Sorry State

Eventually, rescue teams discovered the father-son duo in a remote forest near the famous Morro do Careca hills—hungry, thirsty, and looking like extras from a zombie survival show.

According to officer Luana Backes, the boy was so starved that the first thing he did was devour a slice of cake and a giant sandwich the rescuers brought. Meanwhile, both father and son hadn’t bathed in days and were visibly exhausted. Basically, they looked like contestants on Naked and Afraid, but without the million-dollar prize.

Mark Alexander Cummings Rogers and his son

The Logic Behind the Madness

So why did Rogers do it? Simple: he wanted to recreate survival reality shows with his son. You know, the ones where adults volunteer to survive 21 days without food, water, or dignity. The only problem? His son didn’t sign up for the audition, and Brazil’s wilderness isn’t exactly a friendly playground.

The father told authorities he wanted to teach his son to live “without phones and technology.” Admirable goal, perhaps, but attempting it with zero preparation, no supplies, and a teenager who just wanted Wi-Fi is… well, questionable parenting at best.

Internet Reacts: Parenting or Punishment?

Unsurprisingly, the incident sparked a heated debate online. Some cheered the dad’s bold attempt to unplug his child from screens, while most criticized him for reckless endangerment. After all, dragging a 13-year-old into the jungle with no food is less “teaching life lessons” and more “child neglect, survival edition.”

Brazilian authorities are now investigating the case, and Rogers could face charges for child endangerment.

The Real Takeaway

Yes, kids probably spend too much time on TikTok and video games. But maybe the solution isn’t to starve them in the Amazon. How about… setting screen-time limits, signing them up for sports, or, I don’t know, letting them mow the lawn?

Because if the only way to get your kid off their phone is to risk both of your lives in the jungle, then maybe the Wi-Fi password wasn’t the real problem.