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New Delhi:
The recent cases of a 12-year-old who died aping a TV serial
suicide and a 15-year-old who stabbed his teacher to death after
being reportedly influenced by watching revenge drama "Agneepath"
have put the spotlight on the influence showbiz exerts on young,
impressionable minds. But films and TV shows are not alone to
blame, say experts.
Media literacy for kids is one way out, suggests child
psychiatrist Samir Parikh.
"Our education system needs to spread media literacy among kids
and infuse life skills into them so that they can differentiate
between reality and fiction. There's no other way out," Parikh
told IANS.
According to Parikh, there are a few key effects that watching
violence on screen can have on children.
"When children watch and observe violence, they start developing a
tendency towards being aggressive, they get desensitised to
aggression, they can have a tendency to imitate, and their
perception of reality can also tend to get distorted... they start
believing that killing and abusing is not a big deal, and that's
where the problem begins," he explained.
The Chennai-based boy, who stabbed his teacher to death as he was
upset at being repeatedly reprimanded by her for not doing well in
studies, reportedly told police during questioning that he had
recently seen "Agneepath" and was influenced by the hero who takes
revenge on those who falsely implicate his father.
In the case of the 12-year-old Delhi boy, the father believes his
son, who climbed on a pile of chairs and hung himself with a
dupatta, probably tried to copy a recent TV episode in which a
woman died the same way.
Vipul Shah of Optimystix, producer of crime-based show "Crime
Patrol" admits content providers need to exercise caution with the
level of aggression and violence shown on screen.
"Broadcasters, who are a part of any show, should check the age
factor before venturing into new shows. It's not ethical to show
everything and anything for the sake of ratings," Shah told IANS.
"Parents also play a big role in a child's personality
development. They must notice any behavioural changes on a child's
mind while watching shows or movies. By following all these, we
can make a better society and put a stop to such incidents," he
added.
Veteran producer B.P.Singh, popular for long-running
crime-thriller series "C.I.D", says it is "too sweeping a
statement" to make that films influence children to commit crimes.
"It is rather unfortunate to hear news of this nature. But
somewhere I feel our education is to be blamed for asking too much
out of the kids... but who knows what went on in the child's
mind," Singh told IANS on phone from Mumbai.
The intent of entertainers is never to influence in a negative
way, asserts Singh.
"We try to entertain, not to show violence. In a show like 'C.I.D',
where we could have shown violence and aggression, we choose not
to show the methods of killing, methods of crime or the way they
may have been planned, so as to avoid giving ideas to
impressionable minds.
"As content providers, we are aware that a lot of young people
watch our show... so we take care. But with such incidents, one
wonders what our society is heading for. Who really knows where
the trigger is coming from... environment, showbiz, friends or
school," he added.
So far broadcasters have done their bit by using disclaimers
before each episode of adventure-based shows, which involve risky
and life-threatening tasks. But the big question is - who can curb
the influence, how, and till when.
(Radhika
Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)
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