Page 49 - EW February 2026

Social media glossary Screen time. Total time spent on digital devices for non-es-
sential or recreational purposes.
Algorithm. A behind-the-scenes system that directs online Short-form content. Brief videos or posts created for quick
content towards users based on likes, views, clicks, and viewing and instant reaction.
pauses. Doomscrolling. Endless, unintentional scrolling through con-
Algorithmic feed. A personalised stream of posts or videos tent, often without enjoyment or benefit.
selected by the platform — not the user — designed to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Anxiety caused by belief that you
maximise viewing time. have missed out on the rewarding experiences others are
Engagement. Any interaction on an app, such as liking, com- enjoying.
menting, sharing, saving, or watching content till the end. Digital footprint. Lasting online trail formed by posts, search-
Engagement metrics. Data points such as likes, views, shares, es, likes, and comments.
and follower counts that indicate how well content is ap- Online etiquette. Respectful, responsible behaviour while inter-
preciated. acting in digital spaces.
Infinite scrolling. A design feature under which new content Passive consumption. Viewing content without reflection, inter-
keeps loading continuously, making it hard to stop scrolling. action, or creation.
Notifications. Alerts or messages sent to a digital device to Privacy settings. Controls that determine who can view per-
capture attention and draw users back to the app. sonal information and posts.
Social validation. Sentiment of approval, satisfaction experi- Content moderation. Processes used by platforms to limit or
enced from likes, comments, positive reactions online. remove harmful, inappropriate material.
Validation loop. A cycle in which posting content leads to feed- Digital under-parenting. Situations where children are given
back, creating emotional rewards that encourage repeated largely unrestricted access to social media without adequate
posting. parental guidance or supervision.

Siddharth Singh: bombarded minds Fazal: incredibly irresponsible

cial media is unenforceable. But the school hours, day scholars are subject Heights International School, Indore
success of Australia’s Online Safety to only mild prohibition by parents (EHIS), which has over 4,000 stu-
Amendment Act has proven other- after school hours. Therefore, day dents, including 800 boarders from
wise and we must follow suit. The scholars are increasingly exhibiting seven countries on its muster rolls.
18-month time window provided by symptoms of sleep-deprivation, de- Singh’s opinion merits high weightage
the DPDP Act is too wide as tens of pression, cyber-bullying and loss of because EHIS has been ranked India’s
millions of children are suffering the interest in co-curricular and sports #1 co-ed day-cum-boarding school for
ill-effects of social media addiction on education. Targeting social media the past four years in the comprehen-
a daily basis. In Emerald Heights, we providers — rather than teachers and sive EW India School Rankings.
have noticed that the grades of bright parents — for bombarding vulnerable Nooraine Fazal, Managing
day scholars are falling while some of children with distracting, nonsensical Trustee and CEO of the Inventure
our boarders — who are totally de- and harmful content is an urgent ne- Academy (IA), Bengaluru, ranked In-
nied smartphones — have emerged cessity,” says Siddharth Singh, an dia’s #1 co-ed day school in the EW
as state toppers. That’s because while alum of Stonybrook University, USA India School Rankings 2025-26, not
cell phones are totally banned during and currently Director of the Emerald only endorses Siddharth Singh’s call

FEBRUARY 2026 EDUCATIONWORLD 49