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Knews Desk- While social media has become an important part of people’s lives today, the dangers associated with it are becoming increasingly serious. Recently, a case that came to light in America has once again raised big questions on the security arrangements and responsibilities of social media platforms. It is alleged that using the features of Snapchat, a 25-year-old youth targeted a 12-year-old girl and raped her.

This incident has become a matter of concern not only in the US but also for the entire world, as platforms like Snapchat are used extensively in many countries including India.

How did the whole matter happen?

The accused used Snapchat’s features like “Quick Add” and “Snap Map” to trap the minor girl. Through these features, he came in contact with the girl and gradually won her trust and committed a serious crime. The investigation also revealed that some features of social media platforms can prove to be unsafe for children and teenagers, because through these, strangers easily gain access to minors.

Serious allegations against social media companies

After this incident, questions are also being raised on Snapchat’s parent company Snap. It is alleged that the security system of the platform is not strong enough and it is failing to protect children from potential threats. Many experts and organizations had earlier warned that the algorithms and features on social media platforms could be misused. It was also revealed in a dark web report that some people share ways to target children by misusing the features of these platforms.

How safe is social media for children?

According to a survey, almost half of the minor users have encountered objectionable or unsafe content on social media in the last one year. This figure shows that the threat is not limited to just one platform, but almost all major social media platforms are affected by it. There are already many lawsuits going on against companies like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat regarding the safety of children.

Big danger for India too

Although this incident has happened in America, its impact on India is considered to be equally serious. Snapchat has millions of users in India and this platform is very popular among youth and teenagers. Experts believe that in a country like India where digital usage is increasing rapidly, it is very important to take such matters seriously.

Social media and profit game

Digital experts say that the main objective of social media companies is to keep users on the platform for as long as possible so that they can earn more profits from advertising. It has been claimed in the film ‘The Social Dilemma’ and many research reports that the algorithms of these companies are designed in such a way that they motivate the user to continuously scroll, whether the content is safe or not. The Wall Street Journal report “The Facebook Files” also revealed that companies knew that their platforms could be harmful to children, yet they prioritized business growth.

Why are such cases not able to stop?

According to experts, there are many big reasons behind this-

1. Effect of Algorithms

Social media algorithms promote content that is more appealing to users, even if it is harmful.

2. Limited Moderation

Content moderation teams are unable to screen such large amounts of content in a timely manner.

3. Legal complications

Companies try to avoid responsibility by calling themselves “intermediary platforms”.

4. Priority of profits

Sometimes tightening security measures impacts user engagement and revenue, so companies strike a balance.

Lawsuits increasing on social media

Thousands of lawsuits are going on around the world against companies like Meta, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). These include serious allegations like child safety, sexually exploitative content and harmful algorithms.

In America itself, more than 3300 cases have been registered regarding losses to social media.

Ways to keep children safe

Experts say that awareness is the biggest security shield in the digital world.

• Keep children’s social media accounts private
• Don’t accept friend requests from strangers
• Turn off features like “Quick Add”
• Limit location sharing
• Report suspicious messages immediately
• Parents should regularly monitor children’s online activities

Governments are also taking strict action

The European Union’s “Digital Services Act” and India’s IT rules are steps in this direction, under which social media companies are being made more responsible. The aim of these rules is to ensure that platforms do not become just a means of profit, but also give priority to the safety of users. This case once again highlights that as useful as social media is, it can also be dangerous. While proper use of technology makes life easier, in the wrong hands it can also become a medium for serious crimes.

Now the question is whether social media companies will really give priority to security or will the pace of profits continue like this.