CYBERBULLYING AMONG STUDENTS IN INDIA

In the digital age where technology has made life a lot easier, on the downside, too much of dependence on it has had a negative impact on the life of users, especially students.

- GURMIT SINGH ARORA

According to a Statista report, 15% of Indian parents complained of their kids spending six hours online every day.

Adolescents in particular are more vulnerable to cyberbullying. Due to their need to fit in with a certain group of students in schools and colleges or be popular, they often end up posting videos and photographs on social media just for some likes and comments. However, this takes an ugly turn when such content gets leaked or morphed. This is where cyberbullies take advantage and blackmail such kids only to extort money.

A cohort study in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh showed that adolescent victims of cyberbullying had an increased risk of depressive symptoms, with a higher prevalence of suicide ideation in females (7.5%) compared with males (2.3%).

SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION TRAPPING STUDENTS

We live in a digital age of Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, not to mention dating apps, that keep us glued to the screen throughout the day. Students, particularly, spend way too much time doomscrolling, playing games online and even watching porn. This not only affects their attention span but also their academic performance.

In a study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, it was learnt that 30% of 1721 students pursuing higher education experienced cyberbullying and 26.3% reported adverse effects of cyberbullying on their academic performance.