City schools want kids off networking sites

In a bid to protect students from the negative influences of social networking websites, Podar International School, Santacruz, has asked its students not to create Facebook accounts.

In a bid to protect students from the negative influences of social networking websites, Podar International School, Santacruz, has asked its students not to create Facebook accounts.

HT Image

“Sites such as Facebook are where children usually create a different personality. But, when it gets tainted, they can't handle it and might go into depression,” said Vandana Lulla, the school's principal. “Students do not know what to make public about themselves. I would soon like to make my school a ‘No Facebook School’ but I have not made it a rule.”

Several city schools are dealing with the consequences of the students' virtual acts. Last year, a Class 9 boy from an Andheri school was punished after he wrote “rude remarks” about a Class 8 girl on her Facebook page. “I was shocked when the case came to me and asked the boy to delete the comments. These are very sensitive issues. We take these sites as a necessary evil, but have now decided to sensitise students about social networking sites,” said the school's principal.

Payal Gupta, coordinator of Rose Manor High School, Santacruz, said teachers do not accept ‘friend requests’ from students on Facebook as that could affect the classroom dynamics.

Clinical psychologist Seema Hingorrany said parents should have a friendly chat with children about the negative consequences of being on these websites.

Mumbai kids face cyber bullying the most

A recent survey of 500 kids between nine and 17 years across 10 cities revealed that Mumbai reported the highest incidence of cyber bullying and watching adult content online

In Mumbai, 33% respondents reported being bullied online and 40 % said they watched some form of adult content online
The survey was conducted by McAfee, a security technology company, in May and the results were declared on Monday.