CASE STUDY IN INDIAN CONTEXT – FANTASY VS

REALITY (UNIT 3)
STUDY: Indian child porn floods cyberspace
(SHASHANK SHEKHAR. LAST UPDATED: SEP 07, 2017, NEW DELHI )

India has emerged as one of the biggest contributors and consumers of child pornography despite a crackdown
against such material on the Internet. Although it seems that web companies, on a global scale, and Indian
authorities are attempting to keep the web clean of child porn, in India the efforts are falling short.

Cyber experts have told Mail Today, a daily newspaper by India Today Group, that a new smut video is created
in India every 40 minutes and Kerala tops the list in uploading such content while Haryana leads in viewing it,
on mobile.

Alarmingly, 35-38 per cent of the total porn uploaded on the web is related to children or teenagers (in India).
Keywords like "schoolgirls", "teens" and "desi girls" are among the top searched as they lead to child sexual
abuse material (CSAM) within the Indian cyberspace.

Analysis by cyber security experts showed that 35-40 per cent of content downloaded daily from India is
pornography, which would be in several thousand terabytes.

"The content and consumers of child pornography are growing at a sharp rate. There are no exact statistics but
our findings show that search engines get over 1,16,000 queries every day related to child pornography. The
volume of such content can be estimated as every second around 380 people are looking for 'adult' content on
search engines. Around 25 per cent of all search engine queries are related to pornography which will be about
68 million search queries a day," said Kislay Chaudhary, director of the Indian Cyber Army (ICA).

Child abuse and smaller cities

Recent trends show that maximum CSAM content is being shot on mobile devices and tier 2, 3 and 4 cities have
emerged as major contributors. Children in rural areas and from underprivileged backgrounds are soft targets
but a large number of school students in urban areas are also vulnerable.
Pawan Duggal, lawyer and IT expert, told Mail Today that despite stringent directives by the Supreme Court,
content related to CSAM is growing. "There is a massive demand for Indian content in the global market as it is
much cheaper for them to buy. Websites are flooded with child pornography," he said.

Duggal explained that there are stringent punishments under the IT Act against viewing and sharing of such
material but enforcement is lax. He pointed out that the government is aiming to block the websites but is not
checking the source of the content.

The focus on the matter grew after Delhi police found objectionable photos of 15-20 children in a phone and
laptop of an arrested British national who allegedly sexually assaulted three visually impaired minor inmates of
the National Association for the Blind (NAB) in south Delhi's RK Puram.

The ICA research shows Kerala is a major contributor of CSAM content while states like Haryana, Assam,
Bihar, Punjab, Delhi and West Bengal are high in viewing it.

Children using dating, chat apps vulnerable

Cyber investigator Rakshit Tandon explained that urban children are falling prey to dating and messenger apps
from where their personal pictures are getting leaked and are being uploaded on porn websites.

"Young children are glued to the latest dating and messenger apps but they do not know about the side-effects,"
he said.

There is no fresh government study on the spread or volume of explicit content but official data shows that there
was a 100 per cent increase in cases of publication or transmission of obscene material, including child
pornography, using electronic means in just one year - 2012 to 2013.

Acting strict against Internet majors like Google, Yahoo and Facebook as well as instant messaging application
WhatsApp, the Supreme Court on Monday directed them to furnish details of complaints they have received in
India about the uploading of objectionable content on child pornography, rape and gang rape.

Duggal explained that the country has no central database of such crimes and offenders. According to experts,
the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics do not provide any information on child pornography
cases.
 CASE STUDY IN INDIAN CONTEXT – STEREOTYPING
(UNIT 3)

STUDY: Anorexia rising at an alarming rate

(Kamayani Singh| TNN | Jul 18, 2007, 23:33 IST)

NEW DELHI: Rising obesity among children and adolescents in Delhi might be the
concern of many but cases of young girls falling prey to eating disorders are
increasing at an equally alarming rate.
Ten years ago, the cases of eating disorders — the most common of which is
anorexia nervosa — were negligent in India. However, psychiatrists claim that in
the past few years, the figure has increased from anything between five and 10
times. What is more alarming is that increasingly girls of a younger age are falling
prey to anorexia and bulimia.
"Television and internet have come to rule our world and with both full of super
slim models, young girls end up idolising them. There is immense emphasis on
being thin by the society as well," says Dr Rajesh Sagar, department of psychiatry,
AIIMS.
Psychiatrists claim that even when young girls— as young as ten— in the city
suffering from anorexia are shown photos of slim and fit women, they shockingly
dismiss them as overweight. "Anorexia is about poor body image. When you are
constantly told that thin is beautiful, then your opinion about your own body is
certain to change to fit the accepted standard," says Dr Sanjay Chugh, founder
chairman, International Institute of Mental Health.
Earlier this month, an independent inquiry into health of models in UK
recommended that girls below the age of 16 should be banned from walking the
ramp.
The inquiry, known as Model Health Inquiry, is going to come up with other
suggestions as well to improve the health of models. Talking about this kind of
inquiry, psychiatrist Samir Parikh says: "These kind of measures are essential to
project a more healthy body image of women. While eating disorders have
disastrous consequences for women of all age groups, it can play havoc with the
health of an adolescent or pre-adolescent by retarding their growth."
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies in
young girls especially if it sets in before puberty. Bones are the first to get affected
and 50% of anorexic girls end up developing osteoporosis.

CASE STUDY IN INDIAN CONTEXT – MEDIA AND

VIOLENCE (UNIT 3)
STUDY: Role of TV in increasing violence amongst children
(Prof. Dr. Thomas M.Varghese,Ex- Director SHARP NGO, KOCHI)

A large number of our children watch television three to fours hours daily. Television can be a
powerful tool in developing value systems and shaping behavior. Unfortunately, sex and violence
are the most prevalent features of today’s TV programming. The impacts on children watching
such programs are: They

• become "immune" or insensitive to the horror of violence

• gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems
• start imitating violence they observe on television; and
• try to identify themselves with certain characters, victims and/or victimizers
We have been watching and hearing from the media about the crimes by the school children in
some of the advanced countries. The main cause is their viewing the programs in TV. This
epidemic now started spreading in our country also and if not checked is going to develop into a
serious law and order problem.

Viewing of television violence by children causes greater aggressiveness. The shows, in which
violence is very realistic, frequently repeated or unpunished, tempt children to imitate what they
watch. Children with emotional, behavioral, learning or impulse control problems are more easily
influenced by TV violence. The impact of TV violence may be reflected in the child's behavior but
may surface years later. Even if the family atmosphere does not warn any such behavior such
children may develop this tendency and they will become a social problem.
The TV violence may be not the only cause of aggressive or violent behavior, but it is a very
significant factor in modern life. Parents can protect children from excessive TV violence in the
following ways:

• pay attention to the programs their children are watching and watch some with them
• set limits on the amount of time they spend with the television; consider removing the TV set
from the child’s bedroom
• point out that although the actor has not actually been hurt or killed, such violence in real life
results in pain or death
• They may be made to realize that what they watch in the visual medium is not a reality but an act
only for entertainment .
• refuse to let the children see shows known to be violent, and change the channel or turn off the
TV set when offensive material comes on, with an explanation of what is wrong with the program
• disapprove of the violent episodes in front of the children, stressing the belief that such behavior
is not the best way to resolve a problem
• to offset peer pressure among friends and classmates, contact other parents and agree to enforce
similar rules about the length of time and type of program the children may watch
But the problem with the modern times is that the parents do not have time to spend for their
children and they do not take necessary care to check them from such influence that may prove
catastrophic in the life of the child as he grows.

The children continue to watch TV sometimes even up to midnight or beyond. The parents should
discourage this practice.

It is also noticed that the parents are often scared to interfere with the interest of the children
although they are aware of the harm it does in their behaviour and attitude.. Unfortunately with a
large number of TV channels which continue their program for all 24 hours concentrate on subjects
which attract the youngsters more specifically in advertisements to promote consumerism. So
called boundaries of decency and morality are surpassed by these channels just to promote their
commercial gains. There is no censorship or efforts to control such activities, by the concerned
authorities.

A sincere effort is needed from the Government and the parental organizations to make the media
more responsible and accountable. The harmful effects from television in other areas such as racial
or sexual stereotyping also need to be curbed.. The amount of time children watch TV, regardless
of content, should be moderated because it decreases time spent on more beneficial activities such
as reading, playing with friends, and developing hobbies.
At school level effective measures are to be taken to convince the children of the dangers of
watching TV programs that have harmful impact in children. Discussions and seminars involving
the students are good measures.
If parents have serious difficulties setting limits, or have ongoing concerns about their child’s
behavior, they should contact a child and adolescent psychiatrist for consultation and assistance

CASE STUDY IN INDIAN CONTEXT – VIRTUAL SOCIAL

MEDIA (UNIT 4)
STUDY: From Sarahah to Instagram, here's what social-media
addiction is doing to you
(Karishma Kuenzang | Posted by Shreya Goswami , August 21, 2017 | UPDATED 11:47 IST)
How many of you prefer a conversation over WhatsApp or Facebook messenger instead of a face-to-face
interaction. At an era when even job interviews take over Skype, there's a rapid incline towards using social
media and online message platforms to interact with people. It's not just lazy, but is also contributing towards
giving the tech-savvy a whole lot of social and mental issues.
Excessive reliance on technology has been identified as a significant contributor towards social alienation. Over
the last few decades, technology has taken over our lives. It's changed the way we relate with your work, our
friends and ourselves.
Dr Samir Parikh, consultant psychiatrist and director of the department of mental health and behavioural
sciences, Fortis Healthcare, says, "Technological advancements have made aspects of our lives easier, made
information and people more easily accessible. But, it has also aggravated a kind of social alienation, relative
deprivation, stress and poor lifestyle choices. Social alienation could translate into a preference for
communication via social media as compared to direct interpersonal interactions. Excessive use also impacts a
person's self esteem, especially as the youngsters tend to get caught up in paying excessive significance to the
evaluations and approvals made by the online world."
Stating that today, a person doesn't even leave the house to communicate with others as everything can be done
at the click of a button, and so, technology has replaced relationships rather than supplementing them, Dr Rahul
Chandhok, psychiatrist, Lybrate, adds "People who use social media excessively tend to neglect personal life,
suffer from mental preoccupation and escapism, have mood modifying experiences and negative tolerance to
any situation."

Dr. Manish Jain, consultant, Psychiatry, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, says, "Excessive use of social media is
addictive, although it hasn't been classified as a separate disorder yet, though it should be."
However Dr Rahul says that internet addiction is now being included as a disorder which needs further study
and research. "The anxiety is due to the constant pressure to present a perfect and unrealistic image of
themselves to impress others. The digital world is changing society in a way which can make people feel that
they are under constant surveillance, with every action tracked and activity recorded in some way through the
internet, which can lead to paranoia."
POINTING out that social media promotes unhealthy competition, makes one focus more on unnecessary
narcissism, fake commitments and unwanted social conformity, Dr Shweta Sharma, consultant, Clinical
Psychologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon, says, "Paranoia is a tendency to be suspicious about
everything, whether it is someone, some place, some group or some object. Though it's related to type of
personality disorder, it's fast becoming a habit due to excessive use of social networking sites. Poor attention
span, memory loss, temper tantrums and frequent bursts of anger are also consequences of being too involved in
the virtual world."

CASE STUDY IN INDIAN CONTEXT – GAMING (UNIT 4)

STUDY: Cyberbullying and online game addiction is making us
vulnerable, explain doctors
(Karishma Kuenzang | Posted by Shreya Goswami.2017)
An online gaming challenge was allegedly responsible for the suicide of a 14-year-old Mumbai teenager. Called
the Blue Whale Challenge, the online game is rumoured to psychologically provoke players to participate in
dangerous, self-harming tasks for 50 days, with each task more sinister than the previous one, till the game
culminates in suicide.
The participants are required to share photographs or videos of the task to prove that it's been completed. If a
person fails to follow through or tries to quit, then he/she is also said to receive threats promising dire
consequences. Reports state that Philipp Budeikin, a Russian citizen who allegedly created the game, has said
that he created the game to clean the society by provoking people who think they aren't worthy of living to
commit suicide.
Even though it might all seem like speculation, this online game is said to have killed hundreds across the
worldwide, starting with more than 100 youngsters in Russia itself.
Tanya Tayal, psychologist, department of mental health and behavioural sciences, Fortis Hospital, Noida, says,
"Addiction to online gaming or challenges like the Blue Whale Challenge, is compulsive. The individual needs
to return to online world to feel calm, which interferes with the daily living activities of the person. It has a
wholesome effect on the person's personality wherein his work/academics, relationships and health are all
affected," And most of the time, the person might not be aware of his/her addiction.

But why would anyone opt for such a game?

Doctors say that when it comes to the online world, people are quite vulnerable as the virtual world lets them to
do whatever they want, which in turn, gives them an adrenaline boost. Though there is no specific type of
personality that gravitates towards such games, people with low self-esteem, who thrive on approval from their
peers and are willing to do anything to show a certain image, are mostly likely to fall into this trap. "Teenagers
generally take these risks because they are vulnerable and prone to seek validation. Also, it makes them feel like
they are a part of something that is bigger than them," Samir Parikh, director of the Department of Mental
Health and Behavioral Sciences at Fortis Healthcare, New Delhi, says

And so, doctors say, it's upto the people around these tech-savvy, glued-to-the-virtual-world youngsters, to keep
an eye out for warning signs. Listing some of Dr Minakshi Manchanda, senior consultant, Psychiatry, Asian
Institute of Medical Sciences, says, "Feelings restlessness and/or irritable when he/she is unable to play, lying to
friends or family members and isolation are some of the common warning signs."
Online games that feature violent actions and scenarios may lead addicted players to become desensitised to the
violence, leading them to have a detached view of society or develop aggressive thoughts and tendencies. Dr
Manish Jain, consultant, psychiatry, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, adds, "Experiencing calmness,
peacefulness, or euphoria while playing (especially if these emotions are not experienced otherwise), insomnia
or significant change in sleep patterns, decreased personal hygiene and poor or irregular eating habits, are some
other signs to watch out for." Being addicted has one other dangerous drawback - it makes you prone to
cyberbullying.
Doctors say this challenge is an obvious form of cyberbullying, the occurrence of which is quite high - one third
of teenagers have suffered from cyberbullying at some time in their lives - thanks to the ample usage of Internet,
emails, social media websites, chat rooms, or other digital technology.
All these can be used to harass, threaten or humiliate people. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying doesn't
require physical strength or face-to-face contact and isn't limited to just a handful of witnesses at a time. So,
cyberbullies come in all shapes and sizes - almost anyone with an Internet connection can torment someone
else, often without having to reveal their identity. This can happen 24*7 and the bullying can follow the victim
anywhere. And hence, no place, not even home, feels safe, and with a few clicks the humiliation can be
witnessed by hundreds or even thousands of people online," says Dr Minakshi.

CASE STUDY IN INDIAN CPNTEXT – INTERNET

ADDICTION

STUDY: Gen Uber quick addicted to internet

(Written by Rohan Swamy | Pune | Published:June 30, 2010 10:12 am)
Internet addiction, feel experts, can cause people to become more impulsive, impatient and even
narcissistic.
For 20-year-old Ankush Jha,a lacklustre internet connection,being in a no network coverage area,or
even working on a slow laptop translates into either yelling out his frustration or venting it out on
his peers in a rather unruly and uncouth manner. “ I need to work on systems that are perfect and
have no issues whatsoever,” says Jha defiantly.
His is a problem that is faced by people who are hooked onto the Internet and to their gadgets,but it
is also a trait that is fast merging into the personality of human beings in general. Being unable to
cope with slow electronics,or even people who are not fast enough is a fall out of the uber quick
generation and its fascination with speed. And to top the increasing exposure to technology,experts
feel that excessive use of the Internet,cellphones and other gadgets can result in our clan becoming
more impatient,impulsive,forgetful and even more narcissistic.
“ It is definitely a cause of worry,” says psychologist Dr Kalpna Menon,adding,“ the virtual
lifestyle that most people aged between 12- 40 lead is definitely a major cause of the same.
Spending a lot of time with our devices suggests that excessive dependence on cellphones and the
Internet is akin to an addiction,which is fast becoming a modern day psychological disorder.”
Echoing a similar thought,Dr Elias Aboujaoude,director of the Impulse Control Disorders Clinic at
Stanford,states in one of his articles that life nowadays has started resembling a chat room and the
virtual dependence is causing more and more people to become cognitive in their lifestyle.
Thirty-four-year-old Rajeev Sharma,a software engineer,admits that his frustration is compounded
when he encounters people to whom he has to slowly explain things! “ I hate repeating things over
and over again. The same thing goes for any task. If I’ve to do it more than a couple of times,it
really puts me off,and especially if it’s because of someone else!” he says.
In a study to be published in the journal Cyberpsychology,Behaviour and Social
Networking,researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia subjected 173 college
students to tests measuring the risk for problematic Internet and gambling behaviours. About five
percent of the students showed signs of gambling problems,but 10 percent posted scores high
enough to put them in the at-risk category for Internet ‘addiction’.
And while optimists might think that there is an easy way to conquer the same,author Nicholas Carr
of the new book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains,says that social and
familial responsibilities,work and other pressures influence our use of technology. “ The deeper a
technology is woven into the patterns of everyday life,the lesser is the choice we have about
whether and how we use that technology,” writes Carr on his official blog.
And exploring a thought similar to that is Dr Aboujaoude,who in his new book,Virtually You: The
Internet and the Fracturing of the Self,which will be out next year,states that: ‘It may be that the
immediacy of the Internet,the efficiency of the iPhone and the anonymity of the chat room that
change the core of who we are.’ One of the other topics that he will be touching upon is the fact
that the vast storage available in e-mail and on the Internet is preventing many of us from letting
go,causing us to retain many old and unnecessary memories at the expense of making new ones.
“ Texting and IMing my friends gives me a constant feeling of comfort,” says 18-year-old Shonali
Mukherjee,an engineering student. “ When I am in a place where I cannot access the Internet or my
mobile phone,I feel quite alone and secluded,” she confesses.

SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS (ONLINE WEBSITE) FOR

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