Bois Locker Room: the youngster’s Mindset

-By Mansi Gupta

Today’s teens from part of GenZ, Young people who were born and raised in the new
technology era, who cannot envisage an online world with no access to the internet or social
media . From an early age, they have juggled with computers, tablets, and smart phones
accessories they use in their daily lives. In tandem data also evidence that cyber crime is
increasingly attracting an engaging with the teen population.

The controversy trigged ,by leaked lewd chats from ‘Bois locker room’ on Instagram
group run by some teenagers ,where male students from different schools discussed their female
classmates in very disturbing way .This reportedly included posting school girl’s photo’s
without their consent and conversation’s about committing sexual assault ,gang rape, rape and
sharing screenshots . and this leads to cyber crime .The death of 17 year old boy named Manav
Singh in Gurugram, allegedly in connection with the incident as he was accused by a girl (minor)
of sexual assault on social media, which have raised serious question about reflection of a
existing mindset of the youngster’s, their use of social media and the way forward.

The revelation’s regarding the ‘Bois locker room’ group chat among teenage boys in Delhi
have shed light on toxic masculine behavior among boys even of this age , which contribute to
the rape culture that plagues our society. With the news on the matter being reported not only the
cyber cell of the Delhi police register a criminal case regarding the activities of this group, but
one of the boy has also taken into custody .it appears that there will be more consequences than
just online outrange for this.wit hundred’s of boys from south Delhi, the group allegedly used for
sharing photo’s of underage girls, objectify them and promoting rape culture. The Delhi police
have reportedly registered a case under provision of the information technology act
2000(ITACT) and the Indian penal code (IPC). In additions of these, the sharing of images of
underage girl’s could also be a violation of the protection of children from sexual offence act
2012 (POCSO ACT).

As they were liable under cyber crime the police were able to register a case without any
of the girl’s coming forward to file a complaint as at least some potential offence involve are
designated as “cognisable offence”. In Indian criminal law, anyone who comes to know of a
cognizable offence can file a complaint with the police, who had to register a fir in such cases.

The police themselves can register a fir for a case dealing with a congisable offence once
than can come to know about it. In this case, the information regarding ‘Bois locker room “group
had become public knowledge and so cyber cell decided to investigate
 As we can observe India rank 3rd in list of cyber crime thereat were detected and 2nd term
interm of targeted attacks on 2017 according to security software firm Symantec. Total number
of cyber crime reported in India 2018. From 2012 to 2018, there were over 90 thousand cyber
crime incidents registered across India. Of these over 27thousand cases were registered in 2018
alone, marketing an increasing of more than 121% since 2016. It held the 15th position in a recent
in cyber security of 60 nations by consumer tech review firm comparitech over the last year
itself; the country has been a series of cyber crime.

Role of social media platform have undoubtly become an inseparable part of, most of our
lives and have inherently penetrated deep into the social lifestyle of the people irrespective of
age or gender, for exchanging information and experience’s. nevertheless , it is significant to
understand that even though social media platforms provides and facilitate information exchange
they can control and regulate the information shared only to a certain extend

Cyber crime in all of it’s from is one of the fastest growing area of criminality.
Adolescents , special attention in social networking sites. current cyber crime policy is concerned
with the particular online risk adolescents are expose to , for example online grooming an sexting
and other issues such as explore to harmful or illegal content while paying attention to online risk
to adolescent is useful, the opportunity of the internet for the development of the young people
should not be neglected . The prime responsibility in protecting youth lies with parents are
increasingly also with youth themselves. Most importantly, the most promising approach is to try
and make children an adolescent resilient, by fostering digital literacy and safety skills.