http://www.cybervictims.org by Dr. Debarati Halder
In a recent workshop on cyber crime I was delighted to hear
how young people use the social media in unique ways which were not known
before. Interacting with the participants made me understand that people are
taking social media more casually than before. Remember the advertisement of a
particular mobile phone company where a lift man asks a young professional “will
you be my Facebook friend”? As many researchers have pointed out, cheap access
to internet has made more and more people getting into it; but there is a huge lack
understanding of the netiquettes. Be it social media, email communication or
sending SMSs, it has become a norm to send ‘smilies’, slang words or even
apparently vulgar words when the communication involves two or more friends who
catch up each other for casual chat. This trend has proved dangerous time and
again. Especially when the matured teens or young adults are involved and they
do not hold a back ground of erudite families, the problem becomes bigger. India
has a large sect of urban slum population which uses indecent language in everyday
life. Be it wife abuse, elder abuse, child abuse in the slums or even drunken men making nuisance in public
places, we do get to hear such sorts of words which prick minds of any educated
individual; however, I do agree that
usage of bad words in domestic violence are not limited to slums only. Many of
us strictly believe that the language used by elders has a huge impact on the
children at home. Truly, I have seen many instances where children at a very
young age started picking up the not so decent language trend and it did
reflect in their social communication skill. When in school, such usage of the
language may turn them into huge bullies; not to forget that there are several restrictions
in freedom of speech that is guaranteed by our constitution and these children
and young adults like their peers, may even unknowingly fall in the other side
of law when they communicate in such unconstitutional language.
In the workshop I had asked several
teachers whether they are aware of any bullying incidences including cyber
bullying. Not many could answer and this showed how bullying still remains
unrecognised in our country. While real life bullying does not get due
attention, what can we think about online bullying? Many youngsters including college
students do not understand that with a technology that helps in communicating
need for understanding the value of ‘good talks’ is increasing. In India, an
easiest way to trigger violence is to hurt one with community sentiments. I
could not stop myself from alerting a matured teenager school student who was
then residing in a private Home for poor students run by an NGO adjacent to my home when I heard he was
teasing somebody over phone by calling the recipient ‘neech jati’ ( people from
lower cast). Probably the recipient also teased him in similar language, but
what these children were unaware of was, they were slowly entering a big bad
world unknowingly by constantly flouting the law which is meant to maintain
decency of language. The boy probably had seen his peers or parents addressing others
in similar fashion; but this proves how essential it has become to teach
children the need to use good language while communicating over electronic devices.
Nonetheless, with Diwali knocking at the door, many would be experimenting with
their handsets and you readers be prepared to receive prank calls, obscene SMSs
and drunken calls. Unless we as a society understand the value of good talks
over bad talks, there would be more such communications which will destroy our
piece of minds and may even instigate unknown dangers.
Stay safe.
Please Note:
Do not violate copyright of this blog. If you would like to use informations
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cite it as “Halder D. (2013), “The value of good talk ”, 31st October,,2013, published in http://cybervictims.blogspot.com/”
