he adverse impact of social media and technology on the lives of vulnerable youth has set alarm bells ringing for social activists and experts.
The frenzy for ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ on Facebook, and instant chats on Whatsapp have come to haunt parents especially after the police mentioned the possibility of an online trap behind the tragic death of two teenage girls from Konni on Monday.
‘Likeaholics’ is the term senior psychiatrist C.J. John has coined to describe the many social media-related cases involving teenagers. “There is an innate tendency among adolescents to be liked, to be cared for and to be approved of, which found manifestation in the social media. Those who have inhibitions over direct social interactions find the privacy social media offers luring,” he said.
Parents blamed
Mr. John also blamed parents for their obsession with the academic performance of children. “Parents who punch away at their mobile phones in front of their children are setting a wrong model for them to follow,” he said.
Social activist Sunitha Krishnan pointed to the huge knowledge gap between generations on affairs of technology and social media in Kerala. “The older generation is not educated properly about its possibilities of knowledge while the younger generation, which is so aware about the options, remains blind to its hidden dangers,” she said.
Ms. Krishnan said girls facing serious adolescent issues were the most vulnerable, and recalled several instances in which youngsters with low self-esteem put up pictures on Facebook only to be trapped by ‘predators’ on the prowl.
“A comment that you are ‘good looking’ may hugely impress them and online friendship begins there,” she said.
Former bureaucrat J. Lalithambika urged parents not to heed all the demands raised by their children. “They need not give a costly mobile phone to their school-going children especially when mobile and internet-related crimes are on the rise.” She advised youngsters not to respond to ‘missed calls’ on their mobile phones and not to befriend people on social media, many of whose profiles may be fake.
Social activist K. Ajitha, however, refused to blame the social media outright.
“Social media per se is not damaging, but it all depends on how it’s put to use. Domestic situations and parenting are also to be factored in,” she said.