ROLE OF TEACHER IN CONSCIENTIZING CHILD ABUSE OVER INTERNET

 

ROLE OF TEACHER IN CONSCIENTIZING CHILD ABUSE OVER INTERNET

Child abuse is an umbrella term that covers so many aspects. It is not just limited up to torturing or dismantling a child on a physical basis, but mental and sexual harassment is also a part of it. Sometimes in many cases, parents are found to be guilty of such major problems in society. The goal of different types of child abuse also differs in every situation. For instance, parents abusing their child by forcing him to work at minor age are backed by the financial crisis of the family. Similarly, mental torture could be given to a child for performing below the par in his studies. All these pressures restrict the proper growth of children which leads to many crises in society. Child abuse is rising with increasing poverty and competition among people. To become the survivor of this cut-throat competition, it becomes a necessity for people to push their minor children into the workforce. As internet has reached to more homes, the number of children and teenagers using the internet has also increased. One of the downsides of the internet is the opportunity it is creating for children to get harmed or abused. This situation is called child abuse through internet. To fall under this category, any person below the age of 18 is considered a child. 

TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE ON INTERNET –

1. CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION:

 Sexual exploitation against children is increasing at an alarming rate. With the worldwide usage of internet, it is easier for children to get access to the sexual content. This also makes it easier for the perpetrators who are trying to find children whom they can coerce into doing acts that would be sexually abusive in nature.

2. PAEDOPHILES ACTIVITIES:

Pedophiles are people who have perversion towards children. Men and women both can do pedophile activities towards children between age group of 3-18. Generally, studies have shown most pedophiles are of the age group 30. Online platforms are the best place for them to find their prey and fulfill their lust for children for the purpose of sexual activities. These platforms help them to create group where other pedophiles encourage, give advises, and provide information of getting materials to other pedophiles.

3.EXPOSURE TO INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS:

Australian Broadcasting Authorities had conducted a study which reported that 47 percent of children of 11-17 where unintentionally were exposed to inappropriate materials which included sexual content, disgusting and disturbing violent contents. Most inappropriate material children come across are the sexual material. Children get easy excess to pornography site.

4.OTHER FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE:

There are many portals in internet through which child abuse can be done. Other than the types discussed above there are many other potential ways through which perpetrators can abuse children via the internet. One of them is promotion of child sexual tourism. Online harassment is another form of online child abuse. Young people have to face bullying, emotional traumas, humiliations by other users of the platforms. These kind of experience makes a child go through anxiety and traumas throughout their life if they are not given proper treatment and counselling.

ROLE OF TEACHERS IN ADDRESSING INTERNET ADDICTION IN STUDENTS

In order to deal with the addiction of students towards Internet, certain roles can be performed by the teachers which can put an end to this addiction.

1. Internet prevention programs should be implemented in the school, especially in elementary school settings because children are in their formative stage and are easily attracted towards things, without knowing their harmful effects.

2. Proper and continuous attention should be paid to their close formative surroundings such as family, the school environment and what they do in extracurricular activities.

3. Teacher must focus on the personality characteristics. It should be noted that how students behave in class and what is the source and cause of such behavior.

4. Special focus should be given on their relationship with others. If a student feels lonely and stressful, then what is the reason behind that and why he/she is not interacting with others but spending time on social media. 

5. A teacher should indulge students in group activities and encourage participation in creative, exploratory and exciting healthy activities. This will help students to spend more time with people around them and less time on Internet.

6. Workshops should be given to students on the positive and negative effects of Internet and how addiction towards Internet can cause severe health and mental related problems.

7. Teachers should take time to explore what students are doing on Internet inside and outside the classroom.

Why Does Child Abuse Happen?

• Lack of Education and Understanding
• Parents’ Background
• Very High Expectations from Children
• Isolation of the Families
• Alcohol and Drug Problem

We should work together in a union to fight against the problem of child abuse. Children are the main pillar of any nation for economic and social growth. If they will be harassed and given major traumas in their very childhood, it can disturb society with their growth. Intelligentsia of society should discuss some relevant points to deter with this serious problem effectively. Only then a bright and stable future of a country or nation could be presumed by the citizens. With the increase in usage of internet, the chances of children falling prey to online abuse would also increase. This is the time when the parents and educators should be vigilant and look after the kids. They should also remind that their children are special and well loved. Keeping an eye on their children while they use internet would be a good practice to start with, but they should also remember that they should not invade the privacy of their child. India has an act called POCSO which have provisions related to children sexual abuse. But the government should amend the act and add provisions related to internet child abuse. In December 2019, the legislation has raised a motion for adding the provisions related to online abuse for the act. If the said provisions are passed and included in the act, then the chances of lowering the crime rates related to this would be high.