Instagram finds itself involved in a lawsuit following the circulation of a controversial video featuring a mother and son participating in the Kiss Challenge. The case was filed under the ‘Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Information Technology (IT) Act, which has prompted an investigation by authorities in South Dinajpur (West Bengal). Despite the legal action, neither Instagram nor its parent company Meta has responded to the allegations made on the platform.
What is the Kiss Challenge on Instagram all about?
The Kiss Challenge is one of the current trends which is gaining popularity on Instagram. This challenge needs the user to post a video of themselves engaging in kissing activities. While such challenges are not uncommon on social media platforms (specifically in India), this particular instance has raised concerns about the involvement of minors and the potential violation of their rights.
Violation allegations
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) reportedly received complaints regarding the viral video, which has prompted an examination of its content.
Post observing the mother-son video within the Kiss Challenge context, NCPCR decoded that it has contravened provisions of the POCSO Act. Consequently, legal action was initiated against the photo and video-sharing platform, with a formal notice which was also served to Meta's office in the United States.
Guidance for social media users
In the incident, Instagram users are advised to exercise caution before participating in viral challenges. It is crucial to ensure that any content shared complies with the platform's policies and regulations. Moreover, people must be mindful of legal considerations before participating in any such challenge in the digital world, particularly when minors are featured in creating the content.
Failing to adhere to the guidelines, the platform might result in legal repercussions under the Indian Penal Code and IT Act.
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Instagram has recently reported for been working on some noticeable upgrades and changes. The reports state that it is speculated that the company is set to bring big changes to its Feed section. The platform has confirmed the change and stated that some changes have been made to the content which will be visible in the feed section.
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