A television reporter recently suffered a meltdown when a leader of the Samajwadi Party blamed internet content for predatory acts by youths. The reporter interpreted it as similar to the ‘boys will be boys’ comment once made by the late SP leader Mulayam Singh. However, the two statements are not the same. While the latter assumes that it is in the nature of young men to harass women (and they should be excused for this), the other statement attributing pornography and other misogynistic content for contaminating minds is quite accurate.
It is a fact that the traditional cultural programming of young men sought to instill in them not just respect for women, but also a sense of duty to protect them when necessary. This was done through family and community values, and received through the examples set by their elders and others around them. In the present day world, with the weakening of family and community structures, this value system has become greatly diminished. Also, concern for women has come to be projected as ‘patronising’ and rooted in patriarchy. This has led to a societal disconnect. The sense of responsibility has considerably reduced.
On the other hand, the easy availability of perverted sexual content of all kinds on the internet has led curiosity to turn into obsession. The algorithms ensure that someone inclined towards such content gets even more of the same on various platforms. Even if one wishes to move away, it proves difficult – it’s like yourself being preyed upon.
One recourse is to totally disconnect young people from such material by disallowing them use of smartphones below a certain age, as is being done in some countries. Where the internet is available in other ways, strict controls need to be in place to ensure the filth is filtered out. They need to be kept rooted in the reality around them. Only when they have matured psychologically and learned to differentiate between fantasy and the actual world should they be permitted independent use of the internet. There is software available by which use can be limited to legitimate content.
Of course, the internet is not entirely to blame for anti-social behaviour and the psychological disassociation from reality, but it is playing an increasing role. Also, while the reporter was right in asserting that the ultimate responsibility is that of a person committing an offence and cannot be shifted, the problem cannot be set right without going into what has caused it. The world is increasingly waking up to this fact.
