Internet Security Remains Weak
Social media often encourages superficial popularity. People share daily activities, personal feelings, and opinions publicly. Some posts can harm others’ self-esteem. Children and adolescents following online trends may experience anxiety, depression, fear, and social isolation.
We live in the era of information technology. Mobile internet and social media have become integral parts of our daily lives. Mobile phones and internet access have reached every home, street, city, and village. Social media is no longer just a source of entertainment; it has become a platform for expression, curiosity, and awareness for the younger generation.
However, along with the benefits of technology, many issues have emerged, such as internet misuse, cybercrime, the spread of obscene content, drug trafficking, illegal financial transactions, and dark web activities.
In a country like Nepal, where internet access is expanding even to rural areas, using it responsibly has become increasingly challenging. Mobile internet has empowered many people. Students are attending online classes, farmers are accessing market information online, and business owners are selling products through digital platforms. Yet, these same tools have also facilitated criminal activities.
The positive side of the internet is evident in education. Farmers now receive information about seeds, fertilizers, and weather online. Teachers learn new teaching methods via the internet. Doctors monitor patients’ conditions digitally. Social media helps people in distress seek assistance. Various government services, job notifications, form submissions, and financial transactions are now more convenient thanks to the internet.
However, misuse of the internet has severe consequences. Adolescents are increasingly exposed to pornographic content, which affects mental development, distorts thinking, and may lead to sexual crimes. ‘Sexting,’ or sharing sexual messages and images, is another serious concern. Explicit images sent in trust can later be used for cyber blackmail.
Birat Info
Social media often encourages superficial popularity. People share daily activities, personal feelings, and opinions publicly. Some posts can harm others’ self-esteem. Children and adolescents following online trends may experience anxiety, depression, fear, and social isolation.
Digital fraud is also spreading via the internet. Misleading websites, fake offers, and unreliable mobile apps are used to scam money. Some scammers use cryptocurrency (e.g., Bitcoin) to hide illegal earnings. Criminal groups use crypto to launder money. Although such practices are illegal in Nepal, controlling them is increasingly difficult as mobile internet access grows.
Another threat is the ‘darknet,’ a hidden part of the internet inaccessible via standard browsers or search engines. Here, drugs, weapons, human trafficking, pornography, hacking tools, and other illegal materials are bought and sold. Users can hide their identities while accessing it. Even some educated Nepali youth are drawn to the darknet, which is concerning.
Weak internet security allows cybercriminals to hack systems, steal data, crack passwords, and misuse personal information. Women are particularly targeted through ‘morphing,’ where their photos are manipulated to create explicit content, affecting mental well-being. Fake profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are increasingly used for harassment. Victims often hesitate to file complaints due to shame or fear, though legal action is possible.
PRACAS Upreti
Internet addiction among youth is another societal challenge. Constantly checking phones, inability to manage time, lack of interest in studies or careers, and distancing from relationships are consequences of excessive internet use. Staying up all night watching pornography, playing online games, or chatting online fosters self-centered behavior and weakens the next generation.
We must use the internet and social media responsibly. People of all ages should understand basic cyber security. Simple precautions—creating strong passwords, avoiding unknown links, not responding to messages from unknown profiles—can prevent many problems. Internet use requires a deep awareness of privacy, ethics, and responsibility.
Parents must monitor their children’s internet use. Teachers should include digital literacy lessons in classrooms. Government and media should raise public awareness about safe internet use. Cyber police must be empowered to control online crime effectively.
Technology can provide development, information, and empowerment, but it can also be a source of crime, violence, and suffering. How we use it determines its impact. Mobile internet and social media, when used correctly, can shape a better future; misused, they can become instruments of destruction.
Ultimately, the internet is just a tool. Whether it becomes creative or destructive depends on our awareness, judgment, and responsibility. Safe, responsible, and constructive use ensures that all citizens benefit from technology.
