School holds session on cyberbullying

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 18

While the country is yet to formulate specific laws to deal with it, the menace of cyberbullying falls under the purview of laws governing harassment and is punishable by law if one is found indulging in it, said experts at an interactive session organised at Spring Dale Senior School.

The students, who attended the session addressed by psychiatrist Meenakshi Soi, school counsellor, were advised to abstain from indulging in it as consequences can be severe not just for victims but also for perpetrators. The session was organised as a part of Adolescent Education Programme (AEP) being run in the school as per the CBSE guidelines.

“Besides spreading hate, cyberbullying also results in low self-esteem, depression and suicidal tendencies among victims. Nasty comments made online go viral within a matter of a few seconds and have mortifying impact on the victim,” she said, adding that it was up to the victims to show some courage and turn tables on cyberbullies by blocking them and reporting them to their elders and teachers.

Principal Rajiv Kumar Sharma said most of the students are active on social networking sites so it was essential to sensitise them to the cyberbullying.