Cyber Bullying Among Teenagers in India & A Growing Threat in the Digital Age

The digital revolution has changed the way in which teenagers connect, communicate, and consume. India, with one of the youngest populations in the world and a rapidly increasing rate of internet penetration, has been embracing this change wholeheartedly. But behind the convenience and connection of the digital world is a growing problem — cyberbullying (the act of bullying using the internet or mobile devices). With the common use of smartphones and social media, scores of adolescents will find new ways to experience teen online harassment in India, and serious implications arise in regard to the digital safety of teenagers. 

 

Cyberbullying may often be disguised as offhand jokes or trolling, but it is becoming apparent as a silent epidemic in both schools and homes. The internet's anonymity, plus adolescents' psychological vulnerability, are significant social dangers. 

 

Understanding Cyber Bullying: Definitions and Types

Cyberbullying is bullying which is conducted using electronic devices, such as mobile phones, computers, or tablets. It may include sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false content about someone else, or may be intended to embarrass, intimidate or humiliate an individual. Teenagers are at significant risk of being bullied online, given that their self-esteem and emotional resiliency are still forming.

 

The important issue is not the technology per se; it is the technology being used in a context without feelings of empathy and accountability.

 

The Numbers Are Alarming

• A report by Child Rights and You (CRY) in 2023 stated that over 35% of Indian teenagers report that they are bullied via cyberspace and that far more reports were identified as girls'.

• Also, a UNESCO report identified that India is one of the top five hardest countries for school-age teenagers with online abuse.

• Urban schools are naturally perceived to experience this issue more based on the number of digital tools available. And they do. But the term of the issue in rural/semi-urban schools is closing in speed to urban schools; and its metrics in rural and semi-urban areas are most likely very much under-reported, implicitly based on knowledge.

• In one situation, one of the participants, a parent or authority, heard about the cyberbullying. Other studies show that girls were reported to be more likely to be a victim of harassment than boys, in relation to body shame or an attack on character, etc. 

Incidents do not stop at larger metropolitan cities. The access to the internet in semi-urban or rural India is growing, and with it comes teen online harassment, in many instances without any or little parental guidance and/or using very little digital literacy.

 

Cyber Bullying in India: Real Cases

A few cases have made social media bullying in India an active social conversation:

1. A teenage girl living in Delhi experienced social media mass bullying following the release of private images of herself. The context of the images and her emotional state of darkness led to extreme depression.
2. The "Bois Locker Room" case exposed the male high school students' ability through Instagram to share disgusting, explicit materials and continually body-shame their female classmates.
3. In the Maharashtrian state of India, a girl in class 10 reportedly tried to take her own life after continuous peer bullying from school peers regarding her looks, and was also targeted on the social media messaging platforms Telegram and Snapchat.

 

The issues around social media and its abuse illustrate the acute hazards of real-world consequences and highlight the need for systemic solutions.

 

Psychological Effects of Online Harassment on Teen Victims

The emotional impact of ‘Teen online harassment in India’ is not just a short-term impact. Many victims of cyberbullying deal with:

• Depression and Anxiety: Constant harassment can lead to decreased self-worth, feelings solitary, and other mental health consequences.

• Decline in education status: Fear and anxiety hinder the concentration required in a classroom environment.

• Social withdrawal: Victims’ social interactions may start to decrease to avoid social settings, online and offline.

• Thoughts of suicide: In extreme subordinance, some teenagers may be driven to self-harm or suicide; India has seen heartbreaking instances of this that have shed light on this crisis.

 

Reasons for School-Age Cyber Bullying

1. More Screen Time: Teenagers have been online more than ever during and after the pandemic. Once again, the shift to the digital world means young people are interacting more than before, at the risk of engaging in negative experiences.
2. Anonymity and no accountability: Digital spaces allow bullies to act without accountability -- they can hide behind the screen and pseudonyms. The anonymity of cyberspace can give bullies a false sense of invincibility, but they can still engage in socially aggressive behaviours without much recourse.
3. Peer pressure and acceptance: Teens often define popularity and acceptance by the number of ‘likes’ and followers on social media. Bullies may resort to cyberbullying as a way to establish power over others, or it may be a manner of entertainment for those who want to get attention.
4. Lack of knowledge and supervision: There seems to be a lack of knowledge by Indian parents and teachers about what social media platforms and apps kids are on, which offers little in the way of supervision and knowledge about these processes, thus continuing a lack of supervision and allowing cyberbullying to continue without awareness.

 

Teen cyberbullying in India is a serious concern that is only enhanced by technology, but goes deeper into the now "normal" lives of adolescents. As the number of incidents of teen online harassment in India rises, the time for thoughtful, collaborative, and coordinated responses to the issue of youth online safety is long overdue.

 

Whether it is cyberbullying in Indian schools, harassment and bullying on social media platforms, or threats to teen digital safety, the solutions begin with caringness paired with awareness and education about cyberbullying and now:

1. a) teaching teenagers how to respond to cyberbullying in a positive way. 
2. b) helping them become responsible digital citizens empowered to grow as leaders. 
3. c) holding the cyber bully accountable for their actions.

 

By increasing awareness, leading with empathy, and educating youth about positive use of the internet, from being a source of trauma, to a source of learning, and positive connectivity.

As technology continues to evolve, let us all do what we can to ensure that the safety, dignity, and well-being of our teenagers are never compromised. 

 

Shaping a Secure Digital Space

Cyber harassment amongst teenagers is not only a technological problem but also a socio-psychological one that involves shared responsibility from students, parents, educators, technology companies and policy makers.

 

A Culture of Empathy

All anti-bullying strategies must be shaped by empathy. Schools should promote kindness, inclusivity and emotional intelligence using storytelling, mentoring and role modelling.

 

Creating Responsibility

Teenagers should be challenged not only to protect themselves, but also to be accountable as digital citizens who engage with their peers in effective ways. Student peer mentorship programs, cyber safety clubs and student-driven awareness campaigns can create ownership and accountability.

 

Conclusion

The increase in teen online harassment from India invites society to respond with urgency. We are entering a period where the overwhelming majority of teens' interactions occur critically online versus offline. It becomes essential to act in response to the need for the mental and emotional well-being of teens at a time when cyber bullying in Indian schools to social media bullying in India are serious threats with tangible effects, but, ultimately, so too are the solutions. 

 

Educating teens on how to combat cyberbullying, emphasising digital safety for teenagers, and supporting systems that show responsive, inclusive, and compassionate responses with ongoing individual and collective engagement will help to turn an environment that can represent a battlefield of interaction between teens into a platform for growth, learning, and connection. 

 

The digital world is now here in both its positive and negative forms. It will continue to expand and become an integral part of society. It is upon all of us to ensure it becomes a safe space for the next generation.

 

ARTICLE BY- ANANYA AWASTHI