Kerala, often celebrated as the most literate state in India, is currently facing a harsh question: Are we digitally literate enough? Over the past few days, social media platforms in the state have been storming with discussions regarding a viral video involving teenage students. While the specifics of the video vary by incident—be it a leaked private moment, a controversial prank, or an instance of bullying—the aftermath is always the same: a wildfire of shares, comments, and moral policing that leaves permanent scars on young minds.
This isn't just about one video. It is a mirror held up to our society, reflecting how we, as adults and as a community, handle the intersection of adolescence and the internet. Kerala, often celebrated as the most literate state
Amidst the shouting match on social media, legal experts are raising a quiet alarm. Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the IT Act, 2000: This isn't just about one video
Kerala has a growing culture often referred to as the "Social Media Black Coat" trend. Every user with a smartphone feels empowered to become a judge, lawyer, and executioner. While holding public figures accountable is a democratic right, turning this lens onto private citizens—especially teenagers—is dangerous. Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Teenagers are in a fragile phase of identity formation. They make mistakes. They experiment. In our time, a mistake made in the schoolyard stayed in the schoolyard. Today, a mistake is recorded, digitized, and broadcast to the world. The internet never forgets. The "right to be forgotten" is a luxury these children do not have.
The viral nature of these videos creates a pressure cooker environment for the students involved, leading to severe mental trauma, anxiety, and in tragic cases, thoughts of self-harm.