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Journalism of Courage
Alarming as it may sound, children are spending unprecedented amounts of time online. Young ones are often navigating unfiltered virtual worlds. A recent UNICEF report claims that over 175,000 children log onto the internet for the first time each day—essentially one every 30 seconds. Although this endless stream of connectivity offers education and entertainment, it also puts them at serious risk.
A recent study by AIIMS Bhopal revealed that as many as 33.1 per cent of teenagers are struggling with depression and 24.9 per cent are battling anxiety in Madhya Pradesh. The study indicates a larger pattern, calling for more attention and supervision from parents. This makes it all the more important for parents to understand the risks and proactively adopt e-safety measures to keep their children safe in this hyper-connected world.
Considering the numerous threats faced by children online—be it on social media platforms or through online games—we attempt to tackle this pressing issue head-on. This article is the result of insights gathered from an online safety expert, a child psychologist, and a clinical psychologist.
From cyberbullying to online predators, the virtual world is replete with bad actors and harmful content, even exposing them to privacy breaches. While they may not seem hazardous to the unsuspecting minds, their consequences can be perilous. Addressing them is critical, and here is a look at the kinds of risks young children are exposed to as highlighted by experts:
Cyberbullying: It refers to online harassment or abuse with the use of digital technologies. Cyberbullying can occur on social media, messaging apps and games. It is often a repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring or shaming those who are targeted. Kids can be an easy target of online bullies.
Exposure to harmful content: Content that is not age appropriate such as hate speech, violence, and pornography.
Online sexual exploitation: Offenders contacting potential victims through social networking sites is one of the traps kids can easily fall into. Grooming is the process during which a child sexual offender draws a child in by gaining his or her trust to sexually abuse the child and maintain secrecy.
Disinformation: Encountering false or misleading information or manipulated content online.
Privacy breaches: Unauthorised access to personal data of children shared online.
Online frauds and scams: Falling for fake apps selling popular children’s products at low prices along with spending money or being tricked through gaming applications.
Financial and physical threats: Increased risks due to AI, deepfakes, and other emerging technologies can lead kids to financial and physical threats.
According to Ami Kumar, online security expert and founder of Social & Media Matters, “grooming, financial scams, and deepfake threats are among the most common and serious online risks for children.” Social & Media Matters is an organization working for child online safety for the past decade.
Online harm is not limited to fraud and scams; another persisting issue is the excessive screen time among children. Unchecked screen time can affect their mental and physical well-being, such as poor quality of sleep, strain on eyes, and reduced physical activity. This can also lead to an impact on cognitive development, social skills, and emotional well-being, making it all the more vital to manage screen time among children.
To help parents navigate the challenge of online safety, the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) provides screen time guidelines tailored to different age groups:
📌Children below the age of two should not be exposed to any type of screen with the exception of occasional video calls with relatives.
📌Screen time for children between the ages of two and five years should not exceed an hour; the lesser, the better, under parental guidance, monitoring what the children are watching.
📌For older children and adolescents, it is important to balance screen time with other activities required for overall development. These activities include an hour of physical activity (playtime), adequate duration of sleep (recommended sleep time varies with age; for example, adolescents require eight to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep at night), and time for schoolwork, meals, hobbies, and family time. If any of these activities is disrupted due to screen use, then it can be termed excessive screen time, and efforts should be made to reduce it.
Dr Jaya Shivalkar, child and adolescent psychologist and developmental paediatrician, said, “The impact of screen time on a child depends on their age. Children aged seven-eight are in a crucial developmental phase, and extended exposure to screens can hinder social and oral development, leading to anxiety, introverted behaviour, and even school phobia.”
According to Shivalkar, another major concern is the increasing disconnect with reality as they delve more into fantasy. “For children over 10, basic learning skills are affected, and compulsive behaviour can develop, resulting in aggression. By adolescence, such behaviours often escalate into addiction. Physically, issues like obesity and deteriorating eyesight are also common concerns.”
Moreover, being exposed to inappropriate content at a young age can be detrimental to their overall development. “Exposure to inappropriate content online can have a variety of consequences. Children and adolescents may experience anxiety and fear. It is common to see graphics or hate-based content that aren’t censored online and that can cause a lot of fear,” said Sharmishtha Hardas, a clinical psychologist.
Hardas feels that the use of social media can also set unrealistic standards of beauty and lead to comparison and lowered self-esteem. “In severe cases, body dissatisfaction can lead to eating disorders and body dysmorphia,” she said.
According to experts, the following are the warning signs that can help parents identify if their children are in trouble:
Behavioural changes: Changes such as becoming unusually quiet or aggressive; requesting more money, privacy, or alone time; avoiding age-appropriate activities like going out, eating with family, or playing; displaying irritability, aggression, or abusive behaviour when gadgets are taken away are some behavioural changes parents spot.
Emotional indicators: Mood swings or being unusually secretive can be one of the major emotional indicators, social withdrawal or isolation and even decline in academic performance can be usual warning signs for parents.
Physical and routine changes: Spending more time on mobile phones, often secretly, sleep disturbances or complaints of headaches can also be considered as primary warning signs.
General observation: Any noticeable change in a child’s behavior typically has a reason, and in today’s context, it often stems from online activity.
Shivalkar believes that parents should become role models for kids. “Parents should set good examples. If they use their smartphones all the time, then they cannot talk to kids about their ill effects. There is a need for conscious parenting. And, parents must be more alert, educated, and aware than the kids,” she said. “Parents should encourage kids to indulge in alternative hobbies such as arts and sports.”
“Parents need to develop the art of holding conversations while keeping their child’s comfort in mind. These conversations need not be limited to online safety but can also include topics like sexuality, drug use, and education,” says Kumar. The online safety expert asserts that before giving a child access to a device or Wi-Fi network, parents should understand its purpose and be informed about the apps their child uses.
“Avoid installing apps unless you know what they do, who uses them, and the type of interactions they allow. Simply following trends is unsafe. A quick search, such as the app’s name followed by ‘child safety,’ can provide useful details about the app and its security features. Once your child is online, engage them in conversations about their activities—for example, ask what games they play or how things are going,” said Kumar, adding that the earlier parents intervene, less harm is likely to occur.
“For kids under 8 years of age, the conversations should be around what they see on the internet, teaching them not to share personal details online, and avoiding interactions with strangers. For pre-teens, the discussion should focus on the significance of privacy settings on apps, digital footprint, and the importance of avoiding inappropriate content,” said Hardas.
Hardas says recognising cyberbullying, reporting it and informing parents should be encouraged among children. She emphasised that there is no need to instill fear in their children about the internet.
In an ideal world, parents should respect their child’s privacy online. However, this respect should be balanced with appropriate guidance and supervision to ensure they are safe.
Kumar strongly feels that respecting a child’s privacy is a foreign concept created by big tech companies. “A child’s privacy can be secondary to their safety. Till the age of 18, it is parents, school, and society that are responsible for the child’s safety,” he said, highlighting that it is completely on the parent to keep their child safe.
Shivalkar too feels that parents are afraid to infiltrate the privacy of their kids. But up to 18 years, all screen content needs to be monitored by parents. On the other hand, Kumar notes that parental controls are effective.
“Most platforms and apps have the option of parental controls. Parents can also find multiple options to customise the online experience. Instagram has recently launched a new feature where algorithms can be completely reset; this makes sure young ones are only seeing content that is entertaining, educating, and fun for them, and none of the harmful content comes into their timeline if they are using their parents’ phone,” said Kumar.
Experts always mention that parents should seek help the moment they feel that something is off, but from where and how are questions. Shivalkar offers a simple answer, “Pediatricians where your kids go since they are born is where you take them once you notice warning signs. Pediatricians all over the country are constantly trained to deal with these issues. And taking children to them is less of a task, since they are accustomed to the visit from their childhood.
Can parents seek help from schools?
Yes, experts suggest that schools can be approached for further help. “In certain cases, children tend to follow things taught in school more and hence parents should ask for awareness activities from school in cases of online safety, schools can play a better role,” Shivalkar said.
“Schools play a very important role, education and capacity building should come from schools. Parents need to make sure that children are made aware of online safety through schools,” Ami said.
General guidelines for parents:
Experts recommend the following tips to help parents keep their children safe online:
📌Practise open and unbiased communication with your children.
📌Follow screen time guidelines recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics.
📌Be firm in saying “no” to gadgets, even if children use emotional tactics.
📌Lead by example and limit your gadget use at home.
📌Watch for early signs of screen addiction.
📌Seek help from a pediatrician or child psychologist if needed.
