Cyber-flashing involves sending nasty photos to someone via Bluetooth or AirDrop. The purpose of cyber-flashing is to humiliate and intimidate the victim. The element of anonymity is clear evidence of this. Other forms of online harassment include sending threatening messages, photos or videos.
This is a form of harassment that did not exist until a few years ago. This is the role of the rapidly evolving digital world that adolescents will soon have to deal with all the problems they will have to face as adults.
Imagine you are a 14 year old girl walking home from school on a train. And you get a weird picture on the phone. Surprise, isn't it? You are a victim of cyberflashing.
Before the digital age, it was easy to identify the person flashing because he was in front of you, but in cyber flashing, the perpetrator remains unknown. Anyone can do this by posting a photo anywhere within a radius of three kilometers, whether it is in a shopping center, a playground or any public place.
This photo can be received by anyone, be it a teenager, or an adult, or a three-year-old child holding their mother's phone. The person receiving the image may try to trace the identity of the sender of the image, but this will only be based on speculation as anyone within your sight can do so.
Digital devices determine where, when, how and why we communicate with others. It is now normal for us to tell where we are and what we are doing through digital messages several times a day. You can do this for your spouse, friends or people on social media who you think are interested in knowing all this. This can be up to 50 messages on a daily basis.
The changing ability to communicate with technology has had a profound effect on the lives of parents and their children. Especially those who want to use it safely and positively. Until recently, parents were unaware of how to teach their children how to deal with cyber-flashing.
Some public figures have said that the only way to keep children safe is to confiscate their technology. But this advice may not be practical and helpful. Doing so would be a sign of conservatism. The arrow is out of the bow, now technology has become the most important part of today's world. A large number of young people are using smartphones. Communicating through social media has become a priority. Understand the demands of the digital age and keep young people safe. It is no longer possible to ignore this issue.
Older people blame social media for ruining young people's lives, but young people disagree. However, 27% of young people believe that rumors have increased on social media. The lack of real communication between human beings has also increased. 31% believe that social media has a positive effect on their lives. According to teens, social media makes it easier to connect with family and friends, meet new people, express your thoughts and help others.
For most people, social media is not a negative or a positive part of life and 45% of young people think so. Online safety is a problem for many different reasons. Advances in technology, our growing proficiency in its use, and the diminishing gap between offline and online life are increasing the incidence of harassment.
But harassment is not just a matter of technology, it is also a matter of human values. It also depends on a person's gender and gender identity. In addition, it also depends on the negative habits found in a human being. These include stubbornness, lack of self-control, improper expression of anger and lack of self-esteem.
Our digital life is also human life. It is important that we take steps to make young people feel safe. Learn to deal with the growing dangers of digital communications. Man is undergoing many changes in his youth and the use of media in children is increasing. In this case, the role of the parents is very important in strengthening the child mentally in the face of possible online harassment.
According to research, one out of every two victims of online harassment does not tell anyone after going through this experience. This may be due to fear, embarrassment or lack of support. Children's strong relationship with parents, communication and counseling in a healthy environment should be part of every family strategy.
The parents should develop self-confidence in children so that they can talk openly about such incidents and talk about cyber flashing or online harassment. Restricting their digital life or making decisions without understanding them may not be helpful.
Thank you for reading! Stay Safe!👋😌
References:
1- https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6597188/what-is-cyber-flashing-unsolicited-images-illegal/