Merely discussing the problem of indecent material on the internet is not enough; there is a need to take strict action at social and educational levels. Until society and the education system view this problem seriously, lasting change is difficult. This is a social crisis, so its solution must also be sought at social and educational levels. This is not my work alone. This filth is entering everyone’s home, so until everyone works together, nothing will happen.

20.1 Problems Related to Human Mindset and Social Behavior

The problem of indecent material is not just technical but related to human mindset and social behavior. To face the challenges of the digital age, changes in our education methods and family values are essential. Today, children are as connected to technology as they are distancing from life values. To stop this wave of obscenity, a protective shield must be created from home to school. Breaking the silence on this topic in society and having open dialogue is the need of the time. Without relying solely on the government, every component of society must recognize its responsibility. Only through educational awareness and social support can we build a safe and healthy society.

20.2 What Individuals, Families, and Society Can Do for Change

Any major change starts from oneself and from home. As individuals, we must avoid using indecent material and fulfill our moral responsibility. Parents should discuss not only studies but also their children’s digital life with them. Giving smartphones to children while making them aware of the dangers is parents’ duty. Society should condemn indecent behavior instead of ignoring it and impose social boycott on tendencies that fuel such material.[1]

If traditional values are nurtured in the family and an atmosphere of dialogue exists, children do not fall prey to external attractions. Society should create role models for how to use the internet for creative work. When every family sets rules for internet use at their level, change will be visible in the entire society. As a society, we must stop giving silent consent to the spread of such material. A small decision taken together by individuals and families can become the foundation of major social change.

20.3 Digital Hygiene: Teaching Safe Internet Habits in Schools

In today’s era, the definition of literacy has changed; now, merely being able to read and write is not enough, ‘digital literacy’ has become essential. ‘Digital hygiene’ should be made a compulsory subject in schools. This should include education on safe internet use, password privacy, and how to protect oneself from indecent material. Just as we maintain physical hygiene, children should be taught age-appropriately how their behavior in the digital world should be clean.[2]

Parents and teachers should explain to children that not everything seen on the internet is true and that indecent material is merely an artificial world. Lectures by cyber security experts should be organized in schools to inform children about the dangers of grooming and cyberbullying. When children understand the proper use of technology, they will stay away from wrong material on their own. The education system should not just impart information but awaken discernment in children, so they do not get trapped in the web of online obscenity.

20.4 Community Watchdogs: Role of Voluntary Organizations in Flagging Objectionable Content

To stop the spread of indecent material, there is a need for ‘community watchdogs’, alert groups in society. Various voluntary organizations (NGOs) can play a major role in this. These organizations can continuously monitor the internet, search for objectionable and illegal content, and immediately flag it to legal authorities. These groups can not only file complaints but also provide legal help to victims.

These watchdogs can run public awareness campaigns at the local level. When an organization collectively stands against indecent material, tech companies are forced to pay attention. Through cyber volunteers, we can reduce impurity on the internet. These organizations should go to schools and colleges and conduct workshops on the adverse effects of obscenity. This active participation of society will create fear among criminals and work as a pressure group for a safe internet.

20.5 Open Dialogue: Breaking Taboos on Discussing Online Safety

The biggest obstacle to overcoming the problem of obscenity is the hesitation in discussing this topic. Even today in society, open discussion on sex education and online safety is considered taboo. Breaking this veil is necessary. Parents and teachers should talk to children about such topics with complete ease and seriousness. Only when children openly share questions or experiences in their minds can we guide them properly.

Open dialogue is the answer to many problems. Public discussions, webinars, and group dialogues should be organized to dispel misconceptions about indecent material. The more we hide this topic, the more children will be attracted to it. Opening the doors of dialogue will end the mystery of indecent material, and children will start viewing it objectively. Open dialogue at home increases children’s mental strength, enabling them to firmly say no to external temptations.[3]

20.6 Counseling and Rehabilitation: Treating Addiction to Indecent Material

Just as there is addiction to drugs, there is also intense addiction to indecent material. To escape this addiction, willpower alone is not enough; expert guidance and treatment are needed.[4] Mental health counselors should be available in every health center or school in society. Those trapped in this addiction should not be treated as criminals but given mental support to escape it.

Counseling helps the person understand the roots of this addiction and enables them to live a normal life again. Especially for adolescents, rehabilitation centers should exist where they are kept away from mobiles and internet and engaged in creative work. Seeking help from psychotherapists is the need of the time to correct the distorted mental formation caused by indecent material. Society should view this addiction as a disease, so the victim comes forward for treatment without hesitation.

20.7 Complaint Mechanism: Empowering Citizens to Take Action

Citizens should have a simple and effective complaint mechanism to fight against indecent material.[5] Often, people do not know where to complain. The government should promote portals like ‘Cybercrime.gov.in’ as much as possible. The complainant should receive information on what action was taken after the complaint. Only when an ordinary citizen stands against such material will this web be destroyed.

If assurance is given to keep the identity of the complainant secret, more people will come forward. Using technology, the complaint process should be made so simple that it is possible with one click on mobile.[6] Legal aid clinics can help inform citizens about their rights and available laws. Only when every citizen stands as a ‘digital soldier’ against obscenity can we completely eradicate this filth on the internet. This capable complaint mechanism will blow up the empire of obscenity.

20.8 Good Feed Bad Feed

Once, to protect from sexual harassment, we all together started the Good Touch Bad Touch movement, and we are still working on it. Similarly, now the Good Feed Bad Feed movement should be started. For this, a digital literacy campaign should be launched. For this, accounts posting indecent material should be blocked, sensitive content settings on mobiles should be changed, and efforts should be made to make parents aware in this regard. Teachers of each subject should explain this creatively. At least once a month, just a 10-minute discussion on this should be held in school so that all boys and girls become educated on this and use the internet properly. Social service organizations should come forward to conduct workshops on this topic.

20.9 Homework without Internet

Apart from studies in school, schools should take initiative and give age-appropriate project homework that children have to do daily. The purpose of this project homework should be to take children away from the digital world for some time, live real life, learn something new and gain proficiency, connect with the environment, become healthy. Some examples are: creating a habit of reading books; making notes after reading; reading newspapers and magazines to create a notebook of general knowledge, current affairs; planting trees for environmental protection and caring for them throughout the year, observing and writing in a notebook; learning skills like knitting, embroidery, cooking, sewing, painting according to age, and writing experiences in one’s own words; asking to play sports and other activities that exercise the body, writing experiences in a notebook; daily chats with family members, writing something new learned each day in a notebook.

Now you will say, why write in a notebook? A small baby falls a thousand times before learning to walk but smiles and gets up on its own to try again. If that baby remembered those efforts throughout life, it would never become depressed. But nature’s grace is such that the grown-up child remembers nothing. Forgetting is nature’s grace. But some good things we must always remember, so good experiences and some teaching experiences from the real world, away from the digital world, should be permanently noted.

20.10 Teachers and Parents Should Become Friends of Children

In this, I will say only one thing: becoming a friend does not mean doing something different together. Krishna was Arjuna’s charioteer and friend. When many doubts arose in Arjuna’s mind, Krishna explained reality to him, today we call that dialogue the Bhagavad Gita. Parents and teachers are guides for children in the real world and also those who tell how to live in this world. The things they say become permanently established on the mental screen. Sometimes they are remembered too. Therefore, instead of being teachers who only study and parents who only point out mistakes, become those who will keep them safe. You must make it so that children share their curiosity, doubts, thoughts with you instead of telling someone else.

Parents do a lot for their children from morning to evening. But parenting is not complete just by earning money and giving expensive gifts. Basic needs must be fulfilled, but emotional needs must also be met, as this is also a basic need. Therefore, communicate daily. Listen with attention and love about their studies, friends, digital experiences, experiences wherever they went. If there are mistakes, lovingly say that mistakes happened here. If the mistake is not corrected even after saying once, then be strict. It is your child; they should come to you to lighten their mind. There should be your fear, but also this trust that you are available and ready to help every time.[7]

[1] “Indecent Behavior: Legal Definitions, Cultural Perspectives, and Societal Impact”, NeuroLaunch, Dt. 22.9.2024, available at: https://neurolaunch.com/indecent-behavior-meaning/, last visited on 20.12.2025

[2] Matthew N. O. Sadiku, Uwakwe C. Chukwu, Abayomi Ajayi-Majebi, Sarhan M. Musa, “Digital Literacy: An Overview” International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) Volume 6 Issue 4, May-June 2022

[3] Palak Chakraborty and Avantika Mishra, “Lack of Sex Education in India and its Growing Importance in the Digital Era”, International Journal of Policy Sciences and Law Volume 1, Issue 4.

[4] Steven Lecce, “The Science Behind Pornography Addiction and Brain-Rewiring”, Network Therapy, available at: https://www.networktherapy.com/library/articles/The-Science-Behind-Pornography-Addiction-and-Brain-Rewiring/, last visited on 20.12.2025

[5] Abhyday, “Public Grievance And Redressal Mechanisms”, Legal Service India, available at: https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-17875-public-grievance-and-redressal-mechanisms.html, Last visited on 20.12.2025

[6] Abhyday, “Public Grievance And Redressal Mechanisms”, Legal Service India, available at: https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-17875-public-grievance-and-redressal-mechanisms.html, Last visited on 20.12.2025

[7] “Swami Vivekananda’s Quotes On Children”, VivekVani, Dt. 13.3.2020, available at: https://vivekavani.com/swami-vivekananda-quotes-children/, last visited on 20.12.2025

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