MxMIndia

Tag: children

  • Use language with respect, and you will eventually treat the subject with respect, too

    Speaking of Which | Respectfully Yours

    By Vidya Heble

     

    Last week Speaking of Which was trudging through the sand at Goafest, hence the column got pushed a week forward. But even amidst adland frenzy, we were “on duty”, as it were, and spotted boo-boos here and there. Such as “Intergrated” on the display slides during the Abbys. But as we were told, the presentation was put together at record speed, so a typo here and there is very overlookable. Perhaps it’ll serve to “nazar utaarne ke liye” considering that the rest of the fest went off blisteringly well, even in light of the JWT-Ford scandal.

     

    Which brings us, as it happens, in the direction of our topic.

     

    Apart from the fact of the scam ads (ads created solely for entry into awards and not actually released by the client), what was disturbing was the image of women gagged, bound and stuffed into a car boot. In the light of atrocities on women, many of them in moving vehicles, this revealed a line of thinking which must not be allowed to proliferate. Partly, I blame language.

     

    We speak how we think. And often, in reverse, when we say something often enough we also begin to think that way. Think of “Chicks in the dicky”. Let us imagine that the creative brainstorming team at the agency threw out this, or a similar phrase.  It sounds fun and edgy, not “bad” like, say, “Women in the boot”.

     

    When I was cutting my teeth in the newspaper world my boss yelled at us for using the word “kid” instead of “children”. “A kid is the young one of a goat!” he would thunder. “Are we goats?” He hardwired, into me at least, some degree of awareness about words that we casually toss out, such as kids and cops. Though language has loosened up to a great extent, I still say “children” at first mention, and if there are many mentions then I turn “kids” into “children” intermittently through the copy as well.

     

    Another thing that I learnt is that the way you use language reflects on you as well. It does not have to change what you say; you can still write about police high-handedness without referring to them as “cops” (headlines are different). It just means that you are a polite person, and that’s not a bad image to project.

     

    I don’t know what transpired at the creative meetings (if there were any) that led to the horrible Ford Figo posters. But there must have been something leading up to the thought that images of women gagged and tied in a car boot is funny. Maybe the creative team needs to leave their desks and come out to, say, the real world. Maybe they need to stop using terms like “chick” and “babe”, and tell it like it is.

     

    Use language with respect, and you will eventually treat the subject with respect, too.

     

  • Focus Kids has launched 'Internet for Kids', an initiative aimed at championing the cause of 'Responsible Usage of Internet for Kids'

    Responsible internet use programme for kids launched

    Integrated children’s media company Focus Kids has launched ‘Internet for Kids’, a first-of-its-kind initiative that is aimed at championing the cause of ‘Responsible Usage of Internet for kids’. Internet for Kids is a downloadable PDF guide that will help parents to have an active dialogue with their children about internet usage which is more ‘constructive’ than ‘restrictive’.

     

    The campaign revolves around three key principles – LEARN, TALK and EXPLORE.

     

    LEARN-Parents and children need to know internet better. Parents, in order to ensure their children have a safe, well regulated and effective internet usage; and children to understand the medium and how it can be helpful to them. TALK-Discussing and talking about the doubts, myths, confusions, concerns in the most open manner is very important for both parents and children. EXPLORE -It is important for parents and children to explore the various benefits of the internet, as it is a wonderful and ever evolving resource of information.

     

    Speaking about the launch of Internet for Kids, Swapnil Puranik, Business Head, Focus Kids said, “The Internet is an excellent medium for kids to learn and explore. Today, it has become a way of life for both – parents and kids, making it imperative for them to understand this medium better. Parents should monitor what a kid sees and absorbs on the internet; without making him or her feel intruded uppon. Restricting kids from using the internet or accessing social networking websites may not be the best solution. The ‘Internet for Kids’ parenting guide provides some simple yet effective methods in ensuring effective’ Internet Parenting’ to address these issues.”

     

    Advocating the need for online safety of kids Mr. Puranik further added, “According to a recent survey it is estimated that 27% of urban kids in India currently consume internet, through various screens. Subsequently there is a growing concern among parents about the digital divide between them and their kids. It is not possible for parents to control the online activity of their kids at all times. Additionally, India does not have a cyber-policy that safe guards the interests of children like Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) in the United States. These gaps have increased the instances of online bullying and threatening, which can have an adverse impact on kids. Having worked with various kid’s brands and schools in the past, our intention is to inculcate the culture of responsible internet usage in kids across India, and increase awareness among parents, through an initiative like this.”

     

    As an extension to the campaign, Focus Kids will be organizing interactive sessions in various schools across select cities in India, which have commenced from 8th of February 2013.Colorful posters spreading awareness about the Good Internet versus Bad Internet sessions will be displayed in the schools prior to the same. During these sessions a brief will be provided by a Focus Kids representative and an edutainment video will be played, demonstrating the difference between good internet habits versus bad internet influence. A quick quiz will be held at the end to gauge the understanding of participants. A Good Internet tracker will be provided to all participants to keep a tab on useful websites they will be visiting through the year.

     

    As a social responsibility aspect of the campaign, Focus Kids plans to donate desktops units to deserving schools across Maharashtra, for every 1000 downloads of the Internet for Kids guide. This donation-drive will not only help encouraging downloads of the Internet for Kids guides, but will serve needy schools with quality internet access, in a bid to usher in a fresh medium of learning. Focus Kids plans to reach out to 400 schools across the country through this campaign.

     

    The Internet for Kids PDF will be available on the following website www.internetforkids.in.It is an easy-to-follow guide with a colorful representation of the information. Parents or kids wishing to download the document can do so using either their email id’s, or logging-in with their Facebook accounts, which will display on their profiles participation in the initiative. The Good Inernet versus bad internet video will be accessible on the website. Information and photos capturing the desktop donation drive and Good Internet versus Bad Internet demonstrations being organized at schools will be displayed on the website. Focus Kids aims at reaching out to One million individuals across India, through this campaign at the end of one year.