A week ago, the Madras High Court expressed concern over the growing porn addiction in Generation Z teenagers apart from smoking and drinking. The honourable court noted that instead of punishing and damning the children with criminal charges, the society must be mature enough to counsel, advise and educate children out of such addictions.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh made these observations while hearing a case of two minors watching pornographic content on their mobile phones. However, Justice dismissed the case stating that personally watching pronographic content cannot be termed as crime under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 Section 14 (1) or Section 67 of Information Technology Act, 2000.
Justice Venkatesh before delivering his verdict mentioned that the teenaged boy involved in the incident was called in the court and after conversing with him, he had sincerely accepted the fact that he was a porn addict who is trying to get rid of his addiction. Given the critical observations brought forth by the honourable court, the society must ponder upon it gravely. As noted by Madras HC Justice Venkatesh, a study shows that 9 out of 10 children come in contact with some type of pornographic content before turning 18. This could lead to a negative impact on a teenager’s mental as well as physical health.
With the advent of the internet and easy availability of digital devices, it has been extremely easy to access a whole new world of information sans censorship at just one click. Gen Z has fallen prey to this delusional world and the society must take responsibility to understand, guide and educate them to get rid of their addiction. The court also noted that proper sex education should be initiated from school level. This raises a question as to why and at what age the parents give mobile phones to their children.
Some experts have remarked that during the pandemic, children had no other option than to use their mobile phones as they were locked within four walls. But truth to be told, there are many parents who allow their children to watch cartoons on Youtube and other websites to save their own trouble. It is only natural for the children to get addicted to digital devices when they are given access to it right from the kindergarten grade. This increases their screen time considerably and as they grow, they try searching various websites on their own.
Unfortunately, parents fail to keep watch on their children while using cell phones. It is important to keep in mind that the majority of the parents are not tech-savvy and so, it is difficult for them to check whether their children are playing games, chatting or consuming pornographic content. Infact, sometimes such content makes it to the children through the phone of an adult itself. Since many parents are not internet literate, they do not know how to delete search history or the video clips downloaded from the internet. When the mobile phones are given to children to play games or watch cartoon shows, they come in contact with the adult content. This is where it all begins for most children. Indian Paediatric Association and World Health Organisation has repeatedly warned against the usage of mobile phones for children below the age of 2. Unfortunately in new India, a newborn is immediately flaunted over the video call to his aunts, uncles, grandparents and even distant relatives. Will children coming of age be capable of handling real life relationships when they are addicted to porn? This requires serious contemplation.
It is very easy to blame children but working on them, strengthening them, making them aware about the worldly difference between good and bad is very difficult. This requires day to day efforts from parents who should be willing to sacrifice and accept changes in their own lifestyle first. Parents should reduce their screen time if they wish their children to do the same. Parents and teachers need to educate themselves about new age innovations in order to tackle the new age problems.
