A Sarahah user recently remarked, “There are two types of people: those who are on Sarahah, and those who take Sarahah seriously.”
The Internet is clearly a divided world when it comes to the new app that is all the rage right now. From “confessing” crushes to telling someone that they don’t like their teeth, Sarahah messages have taken over Facebook newsfeeds.
The makers of the app say it “helps you in discovering your strengths and areas for improvement by receiving honest feedback from your employees and your friends in a private manner.”
While on the one hand many have taken on the “challenge” and say they are having fun, it is keeping another section on the tenterhooks, among them teachers, school managements, and parents. They feel that the anonymity that the app facilitates will be used as a form of cyber-bullying among students. When online trolling has become commonplace even when identities are out in the open, they fear that anonymity will make these attacks that much more vicious.
On tenterhooks
Noticing that students were making comments regarding one’s appearance, academics, and relationships, as a precaution, school managements addressed these issues during counselling sessions. They are also asking parents to keep a watch on their children’s activities online.
Mansoor Ali Khan, member, board of management, DPS Group of Schools, said that schools were facing adverse consequences due to the app. “We have been noticing that students are using this as a form of cyberbullying which is affecting the self-esteem of the students,” he said, and added that the anonymous messaging platform was also being used for ragging. He said that they were planning to issue an advisory to parents and also bring up the issue during counselling sessions as well as at parent-teacher meetings. “Parents have to be watchful of their children’s social media behaviour,” he said.
Parents too are anxious about this and feel that there is a need for a proper verification system to ensure that minors are prevented from downloading such applications. Sharada Gopal (name changed), a parent, said her fifteen year old daughter was on the app and was upset with some of the comments she had received.
“People were making comments about her weight and the way she looks. It is tricky when it is in the hands of adolescents. As it is anonymous, they are using it as a tool to target vulnerable kids,” she said.
Sure enough, cyber experts have started getting queries from users on legal recourse for tackling abusive messages. For instance, Mirza Faisan Asad, a Bengaluru-based law practitioner in cyber security, has been asked, ironically via Sarahah, if police complaints can be filed against the person sending abusive messages and if Sarahah is bound to share the identity of the person in case of a complaint.
Tricky situation
But it is trickier than that. “The app allows you to send anonymous messages. The trouble is, there is no way the receiver can reply. It is completely the user’s fault for putting themselves online for anyone to say anything anonymously about them. It’s simple; if you don’t want to get bullied, just don’t use the app. Don’t fish for comments and complain,” Mr. Asad says.
He spoke of a similar messaging app called ‘Secret,’ that allowed users to send anonymous messages on a social platform, which had gone viral. Once valued at $100 million, the app was pulled down almost a year later by developers after it got embroiled in several legal tussles and allegations that it encouraged bullying.
“You can file such cases against Sarahah. Here, its servers are located outside India and legally it’s tough to take action. Only if we have signed any treaty with a particular country or if they are willing to help, then will they reveal the identity of a user or take any action. It’s still very risky and could be a weapon in the hands of cyberbullies. It is worth noting that Google, Facebook and Twitter have worked hard over the years to have people provide their true identities even though these platforms still grapple with the menace of trolling, hate messages and even life threats. Signing up with Sarahah could mean you are deliberately exposing yourself to these threats online,” Mr. Asad said.
Provisions in law
Nagarathna. A., Associate Professor of Law and Co-ordinator, PG Diploma in Cyber Law and Cyber Forensics [CLCF], National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, said there are provisions in the law depending on who the victim is – the POCSO and IT Acts for children, for example.
“But the problem in India is that hardly any cases go to the court, and even if they do, there is no wider interpretation of the provisions. You can’t keep amending the Acts as new apps are being developed everyday. This needs to be taken note of,” she added.
Published - September 02, 2017 11:57 pm IST
