Why hi-tech pranks are funtastic

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Ringing the doorbell of a neighbour and running away or jumping out at someone to play a prank is just so passe. A recent UK based survey has found that jokes carried out by 18 to 24-year-olds are shared online and they are more likely to “prank” a friend with the aid of technology rather than with traditional jokes.

Youngsters in the city too swear by hi-tech pranks. “We were having a night out at a friend’s place. After a drink or two, a friend had been ranting about how he is fed up of his girlfriend and wanted to break off but couldn’t muster the courage,” smiles Vivek Sharma, a commerce graduate from DU.
Sharma decided to pull off a prank and help his friend simultaneously. He flicked his friend’s mobile and sent a long text to his girlfriend. “I heard from him that they broke off the very next day and the girl initiated it. Till date he doesn’t know the reason. It worked!” chuckles Sharma. Technology can indeed be a boon or bane!
Social networking sites are another means to carry out high-tech pranks. Often have people found change in status, relationship update and random posts, that were put up by someone else.
“At our convocation party, we did some really whacky stuff and embarrassing moments were captured on camera. Later, a friend posted a few of these pictures on my wall, as a prank. Initially I was angry, but later we had a good laugh,” smiles Shaumik Dutta, a management trainee.
Sometimes pranks can even turn nasty. Recalls, Ambika Lal, a copywriter, “A few years back, I remember how a Facebook status led to major upheavel in my life. Somebody had put in obscene stuff and I started getting frantic calls from concerned friends and relatives. My account had been hacked.”
Playing pranks online or through gadgets have instant and larger impact. Says Dr Pulkit Sharma, clinical psychologist, VIMHANS, “Young people are on social media to garner positive attention. While playing pranks online once in while is fun, it can also lead to serious repercussions as the impact is instant. One needs to know where to draw the line.”
(Some names changed
on request)