By Saima Bashir
With collaboration among schools, families, and communities, we can guide our youth away from digital dangers and back toward a future rooted in truth, dignity, and the timeless heritage of Resh Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Hamadani have shaped generations with the values of adab (respect), tahzeeb (etiquette), and compassion. Yet today, Kashmiri youth face a troubling challenge that threatens this sacred heritage: the growing and unchecked influence of social media.
Platforms designed to foster creativity and connection have increasingly become breeding grounds for vulgarity, aggression, and disrespect. What once was considered shocking or taboo is now alarmingly normalized. Many young influencers adopt provocative or rude personas in pursuit of online fame and validation, slowly eroding the cultural fabric woven with humility and dignity.
Even more worrying is the rising trend of dangerous stunts — from motorcycle tricks to train-hopping — performed in the quest for likes and shares. These risky behaviors often lead to serious injuries or even death. Despite the tragedies, the pursuit of instant popularity continues to draw more young people into this perilous digital spiral. In a region with limited recreational opportunities and employment prospects, social media becomes an alluring escape. But the validation it offers is fleeting, often replaced by backlash or emotional turmoil, leaving behind anxiety, stress, and a fragile sense of self-worth.
A particularly toxic trend is the phenomenon of “rage-baiting” — posting offensive or divisive content to provoke outrage and boost engagement. In a region already sensitive to political and social tensions, this type of content only deepens divides and foments unrest. The thirst for viral fame leads some to sacrifice ethics, truth, and responsibility for sensationalism.
Social media algorithms, designed to maximize engagement, often prioritize and amplify this harmful content. Despite community guidelines and content policies, enforcement is inconsistent, allowing toxic behavior to flourish and spread.
The psychological toll on Kashmiri youth is significant. Constant exposure to disrespect, aggression, and risky online behavior dulls empathy and emotional intelligence — values that Kashmiri culture has long revered. Respectful communication is becoming rare, replaced by hostility and vulgarity. Many young people struggle with low self-esteem, depression, and a growing dependence on online validation, tying their self-worth to fleeting social media approval.
This is no longer just a digital issue — it is a profound social and mental health crisis.
To address it, we need a united and thoughtful response. Schools must play a leading role in promoting digital literacy and responsible social media use. Educators should teach students how to engage online ethically, and importantly, integrate Kashmir’s spiritual and cultural legacy into the curriculum. The poetry of Lalleshwari, the teachings of Nund Rishi, and the wisdom of Sheikh Hamadani can help anchor young minds in values that elevate character and promote inner strength.
Parents, too, must step forward — not with fear or punishment, but with open conversations. Understanding what their children consume online, and why, is critical. Homes should become spaces of cultural nourishment where values of dignity and accountability are passed down with love and patience.
Community leaders, clerics, and influencers must also rise to the occasion, championing efforts to reclaim Kashmir’s true identity. As Nund Rishi wisely said, “Ann poshi teli yeli wan poshi” — food will last as long as forests last. Likewise, our values will endure only if we protect and nourish them.
Let Kashmir not be remembered for viral stunts or toxic trends, but as the land of saints — a place where the soul finds peace in poetry, respect, and grace.
With collaboration among schools, families, and communities, we can guide our youth away from digital dangers and back toward a future rooted in truth, dignity, and the timeless heritage of Resh Var.
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