This is not the intended road

I read a story on the net a few days ago. A young 8th grade student in the U.S. took nude pictures of her by a mobile phone camera and sent it to her boyfriend who was her classmate. This boyfriend showed it to another girl in the class, who forwarded it to many others. Very soon this girl’s nude photo was being circulated around with lewd and insulting comments added on the text. This soon spread around, parents complained to the teachers and school administration. It was found that this girl was new to the school, did not have friends and was not going well with her stepmother at home. Finally her mother took her back to her place in another town, where she will be put in a new school later. If one tries to look in-depth in this story, two things are very clear. This girl had a very low self esteem and to boost that, she thought by doing so she may win over the attraction of her boyfriend and maybe friendship of other colleagues. But in doing so, she has undergone much mental trauma and suffered a set- back in her studies. Another aspect is, these youngsters have modern technology at hand and are very efficient in using it, but they tend to misuse it because they do not know the dividing line between use and misuse. This is not an isolated case. There have been several cases in many countries where nude pictures of girls or lewd messages related to them have been sent as text messages on mobiles or circulated on the net. Even boys have not been spared. In majority of the cases, the people involved have been adolescents and teenagers. In the name of modern e-teaching and research, youngsters are being encouraged to use computers with net connections. Cell phones have become the need of the day to remain connected. Hence both these things are provided to every child as soon as possible. But sometimes I wonder that by giving them so many tools of convenience at such a tender age, is it not creating a monster like situation where instead of helping it is destroying them. Mobiles are meant to remain connected, i.e. to communicate with somebody if the need be at any time or any place. But all know that mobiles have multiple functions beyond that and it is not only children but adults who are enjoying these multiple functions. But if a survey is carried out, majority of times, the messages exchanged, pictures taken are not necessary. This practice is more harmful in case of children, who spend valuable time in playing games or exchanging useless text messages on the cell phones. This time could have been devoted to studies or learning some new skills. Same is the case for computers. Except for some wise dedicated youngsters, majority spend more time in social chat sites or downloading movies and songs, rather than searching something useful on the internet. Worse still, due to their immaturity, many youngsters start useless, meaningless relationships through various web sites. They not only waste valuable time but fail to learn the commitment involved in a true relation or friendship. Thus they grow to be adults with shallow emotions and no deep feelings or commitment towards anyone. At the end of the day, these youngsters lack any enthusiasm or self esteem because in their hearts they know that they have not done anything worthwhile with their time. Moreover, they do not feel fresh and strong physically also, as they sit glued to one place all day, with no physical activity. Around examination times, many of these adolescents and teenagers can be seen, ‘falling sick’ and visiting hospitals, as they want excuses to cover up the likely failure they are about to face. It is high time that school managements and parents both review the use of these gadgets by youngsters. While their advantages are indisputable, will it not be better to let them use it sparingly, till, they gain the wisdom to understand the difference between use and abuse and make it a tool for progress in a positive direction. rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk