Tears Behind Screens

The law exists, yet enforcement falters. Protecting young lives online must become a collective priority.

- Javid Ahmad Zargar

Cyberbullying has become one of the most insidious threats facing children in Kashmir. It slips into homes through glowing screens, disguised as entertainment or education.

What begins as a forwarded meme or a playful taunt can snowball into humiliation that feels permanent.

The classroom no longer sets the limits of cruelty. Phones now extend it into bedrooms, where children should feel most safe.

Digital life has expanded rapidly in the valley. Students depend on smartphones to attend online classes. Teenagers sustain friendships on WhatsApp and Instagram. Parents rely on social media for news and to stay in touch with relatives abroad.

Yet the very tools that hold families together are also eroding the well-being of the young.

The methods of bullying are varied, but the pain is constant.