A smartphone records the unthinkable. The perpetrators are teenagers. The victim is a classmate.
In a recent incident that has sparked public outrage, two students from Masasi High School didn't just sexually abuse a Form 1 student — they documented their own crime.
This case is part of a deeply troubling pattern where the line between perpetrator and documentarian is vanishing, all before graduation.
What drives such cruelty? Is it a moral collapse, a cry for notoriety in a digital age, or something darker? The question is no longer just what they did, but why the impulse to hit 'record' is now part of the violence.
Well, the answer lies not only in broken morals but also in the complex interplay between the teenage brain and our evolving social culture.
Erik Erikson, the renowned developmental psychologist, described adolescence as a critical stage characterised by the social conflict of identity versus role confusion. It is a period of self-discovery and experimentation. With proper guidance, care and support, successful resolution leads to a strong sense of direction, while failure can result in role confusion, uncertainty and instability in identity.
Some experts describe it as a period of “storm and stress” due to many physical, cognitive and psychosocial changes that take place.
Neuropsychologists explain that the teenagers’ brains are still developing. The prefrontal cortex, the part responsible for executive functions like decision-making and impulse control, is still developing during adolescence, leading to heightened impulsivity and poor judgement. Driven by the thrill of the moment, they are more likely to act first and think later. In this case, many teenagers, if not guided well, are more likely to make poorly thought-out choices without considering long-term harm or legal consequences.
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Also, the brain part responsible for emotional regulation amygdala is highly active during adolescence. This may drive emotional intensity, sexual curiosity and reward-seeking behaviour. Combined with the underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, teens may prioritise pleasure, peer approval, or social dominance over empathy.
In the economy of online clout, private moments have become public currency. For many teens, the drive to film isn't about intimacy — it's a performance for an audience of peers, a desperate bid for proof and validation measured in likes and shares. But the price of this viral ticket is catastrophically high: trauma, humiliation and criminal records.
The consequences are lifelong, yet the teenage brain, wired for immediate reward, often fails to compute them until it's too late — until a video goes viral or the police are at the door.
For the victims, the damage is profound and permanent. Survivors are left to navigate a landscape of depression, PTSD and the cruel stigma that often follows speaking out. Many are forced to hide their scars, sacrificing their dignity and safety in a silent, solitary battle.
Breaking the cycle
Curbing this crisis requires more than punishment. Homes, schools and communities need to unite and raise a generation that values dignity over dominance, respect over exploitation and empathy over selfishness.
The bottom line is that when our teenagers start seeking validation through abuse and humiliation, it’s not just a youth crisis. It’s not a teenage trend. It’s a mirror reflecting deep societal failure. The cameras may capture the atrocities, but the roots run far deeper.
Children need to be taught about the consequences of sexual abuse, including legal and emotional harm.
It's high time parents prioritised life skills training for their children to learn critical thinking, assertiveness, and self-control. These skills strengthen moral decision-making.
Schools should provide access to counselling and mentorship for teens struggling with identity, peer pressure or trauma. In this age, mental health services are no longer an option but a priority.
At the family level, communication between parents and children should be open. Issues related to do with sex, consent and relationships should be discussed honestly and without shame.
As much as parents want to assert their authority, they shouldn’t forget that there is a teenager in the house going through a stormy, stressful phase and yearning for moral guidance.
In the digital age, parental involvement isn't interference — it's essential guidance. It begins with the simple, non-negotiable act of knowing your child's online world: their habits, their friends, their digital landscape.
But awareness alone isn't enough. Our homes must be the primary classroom for healthy relationships.
Children won't always listen to what we say, but they will almost always imitate what they do.
The behaviour we model becomes their blueprint. This isn't about policing; it's about preparing.
The time for open communication and vigilant guidance is now, before a crisis forces our hand. We must build the foundation before the storm hits.
