Social networking sites make parents uneasy

Although social networking sites have become part and parcel of every day living for most people around the world, parents and teachers are seeing these sites as a cause for concern for their children.

Adults feel that they need to monitor the amount of time spent surfing these sites, and the kind of interaction children are exposed to by way of social networking sites.

Aloysius D’mello, principal, Greenwood High International School said: “We have banned the use of networking sites in our school. However, the children may operate it from home. The parents have to take the responsibility to see that children do not enter them”.

Dinakar Wilson principal for Baldwin Boys High School says children should concentrate on their academics at their age, not online socialising.

On the laws governing these websites, Pavan Duggal, a cyber law expert said that the Indian IT Act was formed in 2000 and was silent regarding the age one could access the internet. It was amended in 2008, but there no specifications were made in the social media area.

“The Indian Majority Act of 1875 says a person has to be a major that is 18 years old to have the capacity to enter a contract,” Duggal added.Social networking sites have taken some amount of the responsibility into their own hands. For example, Facebook set 13 years as the minimum age of signing up.

Pratheeksha M, a parent and an IT professional said: “My 14-year-old son is on my friend list on Facebook and I keep a tab on what he does. However, I feel that social networking sites are only an extension of communication, and they make the world a smaller place to live in. It’s alright for adults, who need to keep in touch with each other.”