There should be strict legislation enacted against those whose online presence is a source of pain for others
AWARAN: In a world where technology is an essential part of life, cyber bullying has become one of the most recent and prevalent ways of humiliating, threatening and harassing people. The Cyber Bullying Survey (2013) stated that 37 per cent of the young tech-savvy lot comes across cyber bullying on frequent bases and 20 per cent of them have experienced it severely on a daily basis. In Pakistan, cyber bullying is a serious but much ignored problem. A Microsoft report in 2012 revealed that 38 per cent of internet users in Pakistan bully others online, whereas the worldwide statistic is 24 per cent. It’s an irony that the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes also known as NR3C was established in Pakistan to ensure safe technological activities, but it seems to be inactive when it comes to taking any practical initiatives.
There must be awareness programmes set in place by relevant authorities that advise parents to be more attentive towards the daily lives of their children in this technological era. The youth themselves shouldn’t keep the bullying they suffer a secret, for their silence may encourage internet bullies even further. There should be strict legislation enacted against those whose online presence is a source of pain and anguish for others.
Mahnoor Mirwani
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2016.
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