Blue Whale menace: Experts suggest increase in human interactions

Bhubaneswar: Calling for judicious use of technology, especially Internet, experts and psychologists during a workshop here on Thursday advised students not to fall prey to cyber threats like dangerous online games and be firm in their commitment towards parents, family and kin.

At the awareness workshop on ‘Cyber Security and Threats Like Blue Whale’ on the campus of CV Raman Engineering College under the aegis of NSS, speakers were of the opinion that the society and especially students must increase human interactions in their lives and cut down dependence on gadgets like smartphones so that the isolated state of mind and at times, depression can prove fatal as many victims playing dangerous computer-based games have admitted to depression behind their effort to go for the deadly encounters.

As making friends on social media is partly a type of virtual reality as many identities are false, students must not be too attached to the social media options and lose their emotional strength, they said, adding stress management has to become the `mantra’ to gain control over their brains.

R N Behera, senior technical director at National Informatics Centre, Bhubaneswar said, “Threat like Blue Whale is more psychological than technical, hence the students must develop interests in sports, extracurricular activities and focus more on studies.”

Manisha Mishra, counselling psychologist from IIT Bhubaneswar, said, “Apart from Blue Whale, the campuses should be free from menaces like eve teasing, name calling, Internet addiction, substance abuse and depression. The students should also learn to manage peer group pressure so that they can lead a balanced life and study well.’’

She advised the students also to accept oneself and not feel disturbed by what others feel about him/her, depend on one’s emotional quotient and not only on IQ and be brave to say a firm `no’ if need be.

Terming the social media `trap’ an unnecessary evil of the society, Principal of the college Bhavesh Bhattacharya advised the students to spend quality time with their families, extended families, kin and friends.

Gender specialist from Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) Sarojini Brahma while providing an all-round introduction to the concept of “Safe Campus, Safe City’’ outlined how students in different campuses across the city are being sensitised on the challenges of campus life and on how to remain ‘socially smart’.

Hinting at the various vulnerable sides of life as students in city campuses, she advised students to have social groups to talk to lessen depression and tension.

BSCL and UNFPA are jointly organising such awareness programmes across campuses to make students ‘socially smart’.