*Misuse of Social Media, Families and Society Suffering from Various Problems!*
*Sarfaraz Ahmed Qasmi Hyderabad*
*Contact: 8099695186*
The way modern technology and social media have taken hold of human life around the world, negative effects are also emerging rapidly along with its positive aspects. Today's childhood, which should be connected to playing, meeting friends, and the natural environment, has been confined to the mobile screen. It has become a never-ending headache for parents on how to protect children from the addiction of mobile and social media. Psychologists say that the addiction to mobile and online games is creating aggressive behavior, isolation, restlessness, and sometimes a tendency towards crime in children. Playgrounds are becoming empty and the rooms of the house have become prisoners of the virtual world. This trend is not just a family problem but is becoming a social and national problem. Many countries of the world are seriously considering this situation. Australia has banned the use of social media by children under the age of 16. France is also making progress in the same direction. In this context, keeping in mind the future of children, many countries of the world are considering limiting the use of social media. Our country, Bharat, has a large population of children, so it is very important to ensure here that they do not become victims of social media addiction. In such an environment, the question is being raised intensely in our country as well whether effective laws and policies should be formulated to limit children's access to mobile and social media? The Karnataka High Court had clearly said in 2023 that school children are becoming addicted to social media and it is necessary to set an age limit to prevent its harmful effects. The Supreme Court has also emphasized the need to create guidelines to control the uncontrolled use of social media. The truth is that only court orders or government restrictions are not enough. The biggest solution to this problem starts from homes. Parents should keep an eye on what children are watching on mobile? How much time are they spending? And what activities are they engaged in? In this regard, the example of a village in Chhattisgarh is noteworthy where recently in Gahira Bedi Gram Panchayat of Chhattisgarh, a rule was made that if children of the village are found playing games on mobile, their parents will be fined three thousand rupees, along with the informer will be given one thousand rupees as a reward. A significant change has been seen in this village due to this decision. To get children out of the world of mobile, it is necessary to bring them closer to nature. The place of family gatherings, playing, and moral education has now been taken by the mobile screen. Children have become distant from natural games and have become digital prisoners. As a result, the new generation gets lost in the virtual world instead of facing the difficulties of the real world. Parents and teachers should take them to playgrounds, introduce them to relationships, bonds, and family values at home, and most importantly, spend time with them. Until children get real-life engagements and joys, they will remain trapped in the web of the virtual world. The World Health Organization emphasized minimizing screen time for children under five years of age and increasing active play and quality sleep, while the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended avoiding media except for video chat for children under 18 months of age and setting clear limits for older children. These recommendations are not just moral advice, but the scientific essence of protecting physical, visual, and mental development. This problem is not just of the government but of all of us. If society, parents, educational institutions, and the government all work together, children can be freed from mobile addiction, otherwise the coming generation will be a victim of such a crisis where creative abilities, physical health, and social relationships will all be lost in the darkness of the screen. There is a growing feeling around the world that if children are not freed from the chains of smartphones and social media, a digital slave generation will emerge that will be mentally weak, physically inactive, and socially isolated.
In recent days, a news item related to a state was published in the newspaper that 40 percent of children in Bihar are getting sick due to mobile. According to the news, Dr. Sugriv Das, a member of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Bihar, appealed to parents to protect their children from the harmful effects of mobile. Talking to journalists in Samastipur, Bihar, Dr. Das said that children in Bihar are facing the worst effects of mobile, which is worrying. He said that according to the report of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, more than 40 percent of children in the state are becoming mentally ill due to the use of mobile. Dr. Das said that parents need to pay special attention to what children are using mobile for and where they are using it."
On the other hand, the biggest reason for disputes in families and relatives has always been property, but in the present era, technology has changed the nature of differences. Now, not only land, houses, and businesses, but also posts made on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media are creating distances in relationships. In recent days, the trend of WhatsApp and Telegram groups among families and friends has increased. The purpose of these groups is apparently to keep each other informed and strengthen relationships, but these groups are becoming hotbeds of differences. As long as there is positive discussion in the group, relationships remain pleasant, but as soon as any such post or message comes to the fore that others find unpleasant, debate starts. Sometimes even someone's silence is considered opposition, which further fuels disputes. Many times these minor differences go as far as serious quarrels. Positive use of social media can improve relationships and carelessness can take relationships to the brink of destruction. Now the situation is that if someone is not congratulated on a wedding anniversary or any other occasion of happiness, relatives get angry, but when congratulations are given again on the occasion of happiness later, they call and complain why they were not remembered earlier. Such small things often cause resentment and relatives have to give explanations. If someone is congratulated in the group and someone else is not congratulated due to work pressure, they get angry and keep saying that they are rich, so they were given, we are poor, so we were ignored. Recently, in a WhatsApp group belonging to a social media group in Suryapet, Telangana, a person posted, another person supported him and replied with an emoji consisting of applause. Another person, i.e. the third person, started a fight as to why he was supported? As soon as it was seen, it became a big issue and one person lost his life. In a family in Guntur district of the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh, relatives created a WhatsApp group. A person posted congratulating his sister's child on his birthday. After a few days, he did not post a congratulatory message on his brother's child's birthday, on which differences started in the group. Some people called and expressed their displeasure with each other. Experts say that while posting on social media, the most important thing is patience and tolerance. Any such post should be avoided that hurts the feelings of others or creates differences among relatives. The posts shared in the groups should be of such a nature that every individual feels included. Sometimes even a small thing takes on a wrong meaning. Instead of unnecessary debate in families and friends' groups, informative and beneficial content should be given priority so that these groups become a means of strengthening relationships instead of differences. The admins of such groups should also fulfill their responsibility. If a dispute arises, it is necessary to intervene immediately and resolve the matter and eliminate the differences, otherwise a small matter can turn into a big quarrel. The fact is that at present, after property, the new reason for differences and disputes in families is social media. If you don't congratulate on the occasion of happiness, there is a complaint, if you give it, there is an objection, it has become a new test and touchstone of relationships. Give priority to informative and beneficial content so that these groups become a means of strengthening relationships instead of differences.
Certainly! Social media has become a powerful tool in today's era, but its misuse is causing many losses in society and it is creating many kinds of problems. In today's modern era, social media has transformed the world into a global village. Through Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms, people connect with each other in moments. But where social media has made life easier, its misuse is proving to be extremely harmful to society. News is viralized without verification, which is often false or misleading. These false news give rise to sectarian riots, distrust, and fear. Some people use social media to defame or mock others. Especially the youth class becomes its victim, which can have a negative impact on their mental health. Spending unnecessary time on social media has a negative impact on the performance of students and working people. People spend hours on the screen, which affects their academic and professional life. Similarly, many times people share their personal information, pictures, or videos on social media, which can later fall into the wrong hands and become a means of blackmailing or fraud. Some elements try to create hatred between different communities by spreading hateful content, which harms social harmony. Social media is a powerful voice and an important tool, but its use must be done thoughtfully and responsibly. We should use social media for knowledge, awareness, and positive connections, not for hatred, lies, and harm. Where social media is a source of knowledge, information, and mutual connections on the one hand, on the other hand, it is also becoming a source of serious evils like apostasy (turning away from religion). Today's era is the era of technology and social media has become an essential part of every individual's life. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms have made access to information easier. But unfortunately, these resources are not being used only for positive purposes, but they are also becoming a source of a silent but dangerous campaign against the religion of Islam, as a result of which the evil of apostasy is increasing. Many YouTube channels, Facebook pages, and blogs are being run by people who portray themselves as "thought-provoking" or "questioning minds," but in reality, they attack the basic beliefs of Islam. When young people watch such content without knowledge and research, doubts and suspicions arise in their minds about religion. A specific thought is being promoted on social media that religion is an obstacle to human progress, or religion is just an ancient, outdated system that is not compatible with the modern era. This narrative is distancing the young generation from religion and gradually leading them towards apostasy. Western thoughts and atheism-based ideologies are presented in the name of "science" and "rational thinking," and religion is presented as an outdated concept. Such videos and writings are increasing among young people, which lead to alienation from religion and ultimately to apostasy. Most young people are influenced by social media because they do not have a strong foundation of Islamic beliefs. When objections are raised to their beliefs, they are unable to give a scholarly answer to them and fall into doubts and suspicions. Through a regular campaign on social media, religious scholars, madrassas, and the Islamic system are insulted, due to which the general public, especially the youth, are becoming disillusioned with religion. The following suggestions can be implemented to deal with these situations.
1. Promotion of Islamic teachings:
Parents, teachers, and religious institutions should provide children and young people with strong beliefs and a correct understanding of religion.
2. Online presence of religious scholars:
Authentic scholars should be active on social media and answer the questions arising in the minds of young people in a scholarly manner.
3. Monitoring children's online activities:
Parents should monitor their children's social media activities and encourage them towards useful, positive, and religious content.
4. Solving doubts through dialogue:
Young people who are in doubt about religion should be engaged in dialogue instead of being criticized, and their confusions should be answered with respect. The evil of apostasy through social media has become a serious challenge, which can only be countered if we guide the young generation with knowledge, wisdom, tolerance, and the correct teachings of religion. We have to present the truth in a constructive way, not just criticism. Through the positive use of social media and a systematic plan of action, society and the community can be protected from increasing distances and differences and disunity.
*(The writer is a well-known journalist and the General Secretary of the All India Society Protection Movement)*
sarfarazahmedqasmi@gmail.com