Sarahah app turns into harassment tool for teenage girls

NAINITAL: At a time when the blue whale challenge is pushing its players to suicide with 50 self-destructive tasks, Sarahah application is fast becoming another cyber bullying tool with its constructive-turned-abusive messages and threats.
The Sarahah (Arabic for honesty) app, an online sensation that allows users to send and receive anonymous messages has turned into a medium of harassment for many teenagers, especially girls, who have reported getting obscene messages and threats.
College students in Haldwani, terming the app as a killjoy, said that what they thought to be a platform for honest feedback is nothing but a pestering tool.
A student of second year, requesting anonymity, said, “I got a message threatening me to break up with my boyfriend. And when I didn’t reply, obscene messages, abuses and threats followed.”
Third year student Mitali Chandra said, “I received messages commenting on my character, relationships and the work I do. Such was the language that I had to delete my account. There was nothing constructive.”
Psychologists have expressed their fear over the misuse of the app not just for cyber bullying but also for disturbing religious and social harmony.
Neha Sharma, a clinical psychologist based in Haldwani, said, “People seem to prefer the virtual world over the real one. Using anonymous means to threaten and intimidate people is a sign of psychological imbalance. The increasing negativity is fast becoming a dangerous trend.”
City-based sociologist and educationist, Asha Bisht, said, “People indulging only in the virtual world and falling prey to unbearable peer pressure are becoming victims of cyber bullying. Such collective nuisance can disturb social structure, mental health and breach harmony. Parents and teachers should give children more time and importance to ward of the negative impacts of the internet.”
Though the police denied receiving any official complaint, SSP Janmejay Khanduri has appealed the youngsters to use the app in a constructive way. “I appeal to the youngsters to not use the app, or use it wisely. We are always there to help in every possibly way.”