Much more awareness is needed of the grave ramifications of such fun. For youngsters, and regrettably some adults, too, a device in hand, a few clicks of the button and it is ‘fun time’ within a few seconds or minutes. The relative ‘anonymity’ the Internet gives also means that there is a false sense of security and the feeling that one can say anything, disguise identities, target someone and never be caught.

Awareness programmes about the seriousness of such actions must begin in school. Parents must also teach their children that issuing such threats, sending hateful emails, making false addresses and pretending to be somebody you are not are all highly dangerous actions. Even joking about ‘bombs’ and ‘terror’ can land one into very serious trouble. 

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Initiatives by the police, cyber cell, colleges, schools and non-governmental organisations working in the youth space can come together and this can be extremely effective. Even warnings/signage citing that all this is an offence on public infra and in buildings will be an effective deterrent. If undeterred, punitive action must be highlighted so that people are informed there are consequences for this.