Kids taking it too far online, PARENTS TO BLAME!

The distinction between ‘cute precociousness’ and dangerous sexual forwardness seems to have blurred, while parents egg their children on to bask in social media glory

Two children in their teens have set the virtual world abuzz with posts of their explicit flirtation, seemingly conducted with their parents’ consent, and brought two important social issues to the fore — children’s access to mobile phones without parental control, and parents being party to their children participating in adult content material for the sake of fame and social media glory.

The two 14-year-olds from Tamil Nadu have been posting content that is illegal, and social activists and government

agencies have been up in arms.

Social activist, advocate and fierce campaigner for women’s rights, Shabana Farhad says, “Children are having easy access to technology and with limited control. The content they consume is influencing them greatly. Parents must take more responsibility. After all, kids are curious and often, content can inspire them in the wrong direction.” omen’s rights advocate and senior lawyer Jaya Malini says, “The authorities must summon the parents and alert them of their duties. Allowing kids to kiss and get sexual on social media leads to so much vulnerability. Anyone preying on children can also contact them and lead them down very grave and dangerous paths. Child abuse happens in various forms and must be curbed.”

WSudha Ramalingam, a senior advocate, says, “As mothers and women we have a sincere duty towards children and to protect them we must work in tandem with all agencies. Educating parents about the dangers of social media is very essential.”

Bindya a hands-on mother and social media influencer, says, “Children are like sponges; they absorb easily. As parents and adults, we must ensure we monitor the content they consume and put out. Today, kids have Instagram and Facebook. We don’t know who is chatting to them. There’s something called ‘grooming’ too, where kids can be lured into conversations and influenced. Parents must take more responsibility.”

Entrepreneur and mental health expert says, “Apart from parental control on mobiles or on television channels we should also communicate with children on Dos and Don’ts. Often, kids like a certain song and dance and make videos of it. But we need to be mindful of the lyrics. There are some overtly sexualised lyrics and we consume them almost every day via music channels and our iPad music playlists. Kids dancing to it will eventually understand the meaning and those consuming those videos can be perverts. This is a very sensitive area and there is no harm in exercising more caution.”