Blue Whale: CBSE asks schools to instal firewalls
In the wake of the controversial ‘Blue Whale Challenge’ reportedly becoming popular among kids in India, the CBSE has issued advisory to schools asking them to install firewalled network.
The advisory titled, ‘Guidelines for safe and effective use of Internet and digital technologies in schools and school buses’, lists what schools need to take care of. One of the important advice is to avoid digital images or video of students and teachers on website of schools.
Most schools in the city, off late, have been putting photographs of best performers or activities on Facebook and other social media platforms. While the photographs and videos are essentially being put for parents’ consumption, the board has taken a stringent view as cyberbullying cases are on the rise. On the advisory, schools said installing firewalls is expensive.
Surender Sachdeva, principal, DPS Bopal, said, “Though CBSE keeps issuing guidelines from time to time, this one comes in the wake of video games like Blue Whale Challenge. We live in times when social media abuse can turn out to be dangerous. Many a times, messages on WhatsApp are misleading. Similarly, Instagram, Twitter and other such platforms can be used for bullying and challenge impressionable minds.”
Ruchi Chaudhary, Managing Trustee, …read more
