CYBER ABUSE

Hi Teens...I am Aswathi and today I am going to share with you all a small incident that happened to Mia, a sixteen year old girl.

Mia's POV

Hi. I am Mia. I was a happy go lucky girl, but...one incident changed me. I was a studious student and topper of school. I never used phone thinking it'll distract me from studies. But arrival of covid made me impossible to study without mobile.

Things were going smooth but during this time, I started to explore mobile and slowly slowly I became addicted to it. Earlier I used phone one or two hour then it became 20-22 hours. You must be wondering how will I sleep, right? But truth is I didn't slept properly those days. My parents thought I am studying in room but I was actually playing in phone. I used instagram and twitter for hours. I got many online friends.

One day a boy messaged me. I too messaged him. Slowly slowly we became attached to each other. We are more than friends, didn't know when I held unknown emotions for him. We used to share each others pics and everything seemed smooth. But then he blackmailed me using photo shopped pictures of mine. I was broken down. I didn't knew what to do. My behavior towards my parents and family changed. I lost my sleep and appetite. I became depressed from a go lucky girl. Actually they were worried when I failed in many subjects. But my depressed state made them more worried. Finally they took that decision.

I, with my parents visited a councillor. He talked with my parents first. Then he talked to me personally. At first, I was hesitant to disclose everything to him. He encouraged me by telling me that sharing will lessen our pain and problems. So I told him everything that happened to me. He advised me to tell it to my parents. I was scared to share it with parents. But his words echoed in my ears "Parents may scold or punish us when we does anything wrong but at last they will always support us because THEY ARE PARENTS and PARENTS ARE LIKE THAT."

After gathering courage, I disclosed everything to parents. Mom cried while hitting me, dad was numb hearing that. After some slaps, mom stopped and continued crying but dad is silent. His silence is the thing that made me worried the most. I don't care if he scolds or hits me, but I can't tolerate his silence. I cried hugging him and said "Its all my fault. I'll be a good girl from now. Please say anything. I can't tolerate your silence dad." Finally he reciprocated the hug. I felt relieved.

The next day, we went to cyber cell to file a complaint. And after a long struggle that criminal is put into bars. All the photos are wiped off from his phone. This incident is an unforgettable one in my life.

But I don't want any other girl to be trapped like this. Using social media is okay but that should be in a limit. Elixir is also toxic if we consumes more. So, its we who have to control ourselves from falling in trap of cyber criminals.

Mia's POV ends

So friends, we should use social media, social media shouldn't rule us. Let's take precaution and try our best to avoid sharing our photos in social media and with strangers. If we are trapped by cyber criminals, we should inform and file a case in cyber cell. But it is said that  "PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE".

That's all for today guys!

Credits : Aswathi08