Since times immemorial, the message for all of us is that “Balanced emotions help us live productive lives”. Alas, the Internet or technology does not enhance this. It has left us exposed to different risks, threats and hazards (though this was not intended by the originators).
A. Life around us Nature around us has many examples of living things demonstrating exemplar self-preservation interests. One such example is that of the turtle which is known to live long. The turtle is blessed with a shell (protective covering) that it withdraws itself into, to safeguard itself at times of danger or insecurity.
B. The subject of discussion As this article discusses mental health, the turtle is an example of a slow creature that steadily wins the race against the hare (more representative of today’s future next generation). For some being slow, is a sign of not coping up. At this stage we need to ensure that one remembers that to cope up one must also understand the importance of self-preservation. This means that to cope up we must not rush into action or involvement that can be life threatening or can perpetuate danger to others. The Internet is host to web content and applications that have been developed by a variety of people with different inbuilt tendencies, where some have contributed to life, whereas some others have missed norms that as humans we must work productively and ensure self-preservation of fellow beings.
C. What do we feel sometimes?
We irrespective of our background feel despair, anxiety and distress at not being able to cope up. Not able to cope up can relate to all or any of the following:
1. Our self-esteem
2. The way we are performing in work related or academic related endeavors
3. Our acceptance or desire to be accepted in different social circles
4. Our goal-setting and current status
5. A future generation component called “Virtual identity” and what it makes us believe we are capable of
To explain further, each of these influencers play an important role in our emotions (more portrayed by emojis today). It is normal to feel unhappy, frustrated, restless or even low in self-esteem, but the important question is “How does our instinct to feel better act up?”
D. Typical instinct or responses
1. For some of us improving our self-esteem can happen by taking up a physical activity or by involving ourselves in a hobby or past time, that helps us re-energize.
2. For some others, it could mean having someone to talk to, or having someone to comfort us, or even provide some insight and direction. It is known that seeking clinical assistance is not preferred by most of us, we prefer confidants or common counselling.
3. For some it is being dependent on or being part of some timeline for involvement, where this could mean writing to-do lists, making new plans, seeking more justified deadlines or even re-looking at goals. It is important to highlight that this can be done in introspection or with the help of someone trusted and experienced. How to cope up when one is not coping up is a common concern. It need not be the cause for escalated emotions or other unwanted reactions.
Teamwork and mentoring are pillars that the world relies on, we must recognize this and seek results in due consideration. We must not rely on anonymous people to find direction, or a high in emotions or even stability in our lives. We must know who is helping us or who are we depending upon.
4. Sometimes even the best of interests and hard work does not help accomplish goals (however simple or advanced they may be). In these times our physical, mental and spiritual strengths need reinforcement. It is easy to explain how physical and mental strength (inner strengths) can help us achieve, but what needs understanding is spiritual strength. Spiritual strength is a belief in the cosmic form “God” or “Universal energy” which helps even the tiniest seed grow into a plant or tree that is productive for man. It is important to recognize that God does not create messengers or god-men. It is our self-preservative instinct with strengths to overcome limitations that can help us achieve. We must attempt to understand problem solving while attempting to achieve our goals or to find the way once again (when faced with failure, rejection, loss, separation etc).
5. When faced with failure, rejection, loss, separation or low self-esteem, we must find a way to redeem our self-esteem and confidence.
6. One word of concern to all those who believe in being online, is “addiction”. The term “addiction” refers to feeling despair, distress, disorientation, restlessness, sleeplessness and even anger, when we are not able to interact online.
Addiction can range from simple repetitive involvement to extreme interaction where one loses track of priority, energy and time spent. 7. When addicted, the interventions possible today are common counselling, moral policing, monitoring and alerting, parental controls, blocking of web sites, web content and even blocking of communication from specific sources. The tech-savvy world on one hand, finds ways to sell us online protection and control. As users of the Internet either directly or as providers to others, we must be aware that all these interventions are meant to mitigate risk, threat and hazard that can be caused by unbounded Internet availability.
8. Thus for the addicted or vulnerable the need to recognize being addicted is a vital must.
E. How can protecting the addicted, the vulnerable, the non-committed user, or the provider be achieved?
We know that the Internet is meant to be unbounded and free, but the need to deploy Netiquette Portals for different categories of account holders, users or information seekers, is fast becoming important.
These Netiquette Portals can bring in awareness, spread or share information and help provide guidance about the current problems of the virtual identity world and being online. As sometimes, we may not be able to use a Portal online - newspapers, magazines and public notice boards should include timely inserts and announcements about netiquette to be followed.
The need is to make all netiquette alerts, warnings, announcements and inserts socially acceptable.
F. Conclusion
Enabling more netiquette in Internet utilization and implementing vital e-Briefing via Social media services will help us take the next step to mitigating the technologies that can attract children, teenagers or the more vulnerable.
It can also start a socially acceptable endeavor to making the Internet “more safe”. Valuable time to plan and achieve, when overlooked, is an irreparable misdoing to one and all.
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