Digital Shadows in Valley

One photo, and thousands of cruel comments, Kashmiri youth are learning the hard way that online actions have real consequences.

- Tawheed Parvaiz Bhat

Kashmir streets pulse with life, but its youth increasingly explore another world: the internet.

Smartphones have become as essential as schoolbags, and social media feels like a town square stretched across continents.

Students share study notes, cultural traditions, and creative projects. They celebrate achievements and aspirations. But, alongside this digital promise lies a darker reality.

Cyberbullying, once a whisper, now echoes loudly, leaving emotional scars that reach far beyond screens.

Cyberbullying in Kashmir takes many forms. It can be the sudden spread of humiliating images, malicious rumours, fake profiles, or organized campaigns targeting someone for personal, social, or political reasons. Unlike traditional bullying, it is relentless.

A teenager can be harassed while at home, in school, or even during family gatherings. The permanence of digital content turns temporary shame into lasting trauma. Victims often experience anxiety, depression, withdrawal from social life, and in some cases, suicidal thoughts.