Impact Of Online Peer Pressure! #AAH
Making friends, fitting-in and feeling like you belong can be a daily challenge especially for young people
Taking risks to feel accepted
The changing nature of social norms online and their increased need to feel part of the group can push them to take risks online that they otherwise wouldn’t.
This could be feeling pressured to take part in a prank and posting it on social media for all to see, sending a nude to someone they may like, to show they’re really interested or taking part in cyberbullying.
As well as this, young people may actively chase likes and followers to prove to others that they are popular and well-liked without a clear understanding of how this might put them at risk.
Being part of a group that encourages anti-social behaviour can negatively impact children’s perception of what is also acceptable offline.
If a child feels pressured to send a nude to show their commitment in a relationship or their image is shared after a break-up, this can create anxiety and stress.
The pressure to be accepted into a group of friends may make your child feel they have to do what is asked of them. This may be humiliating and is often for the ‘entertainment’ of the other people in the group who are not genuine friends.
Safety tips-
Create clear rules about what they should and shouldn’t do online.
Help them recognize when they feel pressured into doing something (i.e. fear of being humiliated, losing a friendship, being isolated, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out))
Help them feel confident about saying no if they are asked to do something that puts them or others at risk
Help them understand that it’s important not to take everything at face value and that it’s important to challenge, check and question things that seem too good to be true or may put them or others at risk
Make sure they understand that creating or sending a nude image of a young person under 18 is against the law. Teach perils of sexting.
Most importantly teach them critical thinking so that they can distinguish between right and wrong and stand up for their own beliefs.
Stay Aware, Stay Safe
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!
PS- We have referred to online articles on the subject.
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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA AGAINST HARASSMENT’
‘Akancha Against Harassment’ is India’s largest social impact initiative against cyber harassment. It was founded by Miss Akancha Srivastava in February 2017. It’s a not-for-profit Section 8 organization.
Honorary Board of advisors
Foundation’s advisory board hosts – Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chattisgarh), ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh), ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra), Dr Poonam Verma (Principal- SSCBS, Delhi University)
Goals of this initiative
The initiative aims at Education, Empowerment & Bridging of general population with the authorities.
Support of the Indian Police for the initiative
Bridging is the most unique attribute of the initiative. We have a host of over 70+ senior police officers from across the country supporting us in content & awareness drive.
This unique strength helps us address any victim complaints that come to us as well as inform people about various measures of law enforcement across the country.
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We run India’s only private national multilingual AI chat helpline for cyber safety. This helpline is currently available in Hindi & English on our website. It can be accessed from any internet enabled device. You can chat here anonymously, fearlessly.