How Online Outrage Kills Innocence

The Battle Royale Games are Killing Innocence in Children

It was not just shocking but horrifying to read that a 9-year-old girl was bludgeoned to death in Indore, by an 11-year-old boy, who was very angry as she had been beating him in an online game continuously since the lockdown began. They were neighbours and had been playing an online game – where contestants have to kill each other to survive on an island. The boy, constantly losing to the girl, became furious and took her to a nearby field where he hit her in anger in the head and face with three stones. The girl collapsed in no time.

The increasing anger, violence and aggression among children due to such online battle games is a common phenomenon these days. Emotional and mental instability is playing havoc with our precious innocent minds. Covid19 has shut the schools and the young learners are forced to adapt learning from home. The prolonged restrictions on community leisure activities coupled with parents juggling supporting their children’s transition to online learning with their own household and professional responsibilities result into more liberty for kids to spend screen time.  Children getting addicted to such battle games tend to become less socially active and start developing negative and retaliating thoughts. It disturbs their sleep patterns and physical health as they adopt a sedentary life to play uninterruptedly. Surprisingly, gaming begins as entertainment and fun but this fun takes a back seat in a jiffy and it turns into an addiction and starts affecting children’s physical and mental health adversely.

These days children are going through a very difficult phase so it’s quite often they react to happenings without giving a thought to possible consequences. If they feel anything going on against their will they lash out at them. We all know that the lockdown fatigue, stress, overwork and anxiety have allowed e-devices and digital platforms to overtake our children’s needs. With all such changes parents should be more vigilant on their kids’ online activities as owing to the online classes; there are more chances of being involved in such online games- making them more aggressive, defiant and violent.

 It is evident that the rise in technology, while empowering and connecting people all over the world, also obliterates the very boundaries necessary for our emotional well-being and it won’t be an exaggeration to say that children get affected the most with this as they are just like clay. The aggression and violence which they come across during such online games make them so vulnerable that they become the object of their anger and are caught up in fury, hatred and vengeance. They begin to harbour resentment for hours, days, weeks, months and sometimes whole life which eventually make cruel with no respect for others.

I still remember my days in Udaipur, Rajasthan when I was working in a school where every month we had ‘Warm Smile’, and ‘Surya Namaskar’ (Surya Namaskar and Pranayam were daily practices during morning assembly) competitions for our children. Apart from these monthly competitions we had two camps in a session; ‘Know Thyself’, and ‘Rise and Shine Camp’ to instill leadership qualities and mental and emotional stability in our children. Those days emotional and mental well-being was not a much talked about topic but my Director, Mrs. Alka Sharma had a strong belief that imbibing an attitude of gratitude and emotional stability are great virtues which give children enough strength to fight back all the setbacks in life. Today when I see the menace spreading by leaps and bounds I can’t resist admiring and respecting the vision behind those competitions and camps organized by the school. Educational institutes should mull over introducing such activities as a regular practice to build an emotionally stronger generation.

Thought Provoking Read: Never to Advise Adolescents

It becomes the sole responsibility of parents, teachers and the elders to inculcate the strong sense of will power, forgiveness, gratitude and contentment in their children so that when they encounter problems or dejection in life they don’t get overwhelmed by it. Teaching our children to be thankful for everything and forgiveness for everyone are the best practices a parent and a teacher can do. Teach them empathy and seek their help in household tasks. Talk to them as much as you can so that you help them improve their physical and mental health. This difficult time will pass soon and these tender buds will blossom beautifully again.

I would like to conclude my blog with Leo Tolstoy’s words, “There is something in the human spirit that will survive and prevail. There is a tiny and brilliant light burning in the heart of man that will not go out, no matter how dark the world becomes.”