Ganderbal: Department of Law, Central University of Kashmir (CUK) organized an inter-departmental speech competition on “The Impact of Social Media on Children,” at varsity’s Tulmulla Campus here.
Eighteen students, representing university departments, participated in the event, which was part of a programme series organized under the auspices of Legal-Aid-Clinic-for-Juveniles established in the Law Department, sponsored under a project allotted to it by the Department of Justice, Government of India.
The participants highlighted the positive and negative impacts of social media on the growth and development of children. Speaking about the negative aspects, many speakers highlighted that the increasing use of social media leads to the experiences of FOMO, feeling of anxiety or insecurity over the possibility of missing out on something, by children. They argued that the “obsession of social media has led to the feelings of depression among its nonstop users.” Many participants illustrated with examples of how uncensored use of social media by young minds “exposes them to sexual predation and cyber-bullying.” They also spoke about the positive impacts of social media and said that its advent has opened new opportunities and vistas in the modern world. “The Covid-19 pandemic has made us realize the value of social media as the latter provided us with an alternative to online social interactions,” they said.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir appreciated the department for holding the competition and emphasized that such events provide a platform for the all round development of the students. He said that education should result in overall growth of a child socially, economically, intellectually and emotionally. “This is possible when a student moves beyond the classroom and participates in academic interactions, conferences and seminars.”
Thanking the Vice Chancellor for his presence, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Mir highlighted the importance of such events and emphasized that the aim of education is not only to attend classes, write examinations and wait for results, but its main objective should be to transform human beings into humane beings.
Director, Directorate of Research and Development, Prof. G M Bhat congratulated the participants for taking interest in the competition and distributed trophies among the winners.
Dr Arif Nazir, Head, Department of Convergent Journalism and Faizan Ashraf Mir Asst Prof Department of Tourism Studies served as the jury members.
Baqia Farhat student of Zoology Department was adjudged as the winner of the competition while as Mehreen Altaf and Aqsa Assadullaha students of the Law Department were declared as 2nd and 3rd runner ups respectively.