<p>When schools closed their doors during the Covid-19 lockdowns and learning and playtime moved online for children across India, this shift was widely welcomed. But no one truly saw the serious hidden problems it would bring. </p><p>The harsh reality we’re still seeing is a rise in online bullying, besides a surge in online sexual abuse and exploitation.</p><p>This continuing, growing threat to children has been confirmed by a recent study from the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and ChildFund India. The study, which examined over 900 schoolchildren aged 8 to 18, found that one in six teenagers had connected with strangers online, and one in ten had even met them in person. Boys (17 per cent) were more likely to engage in such risky behaviour than girls (4 per cent), and it was more common in rural areas (12 per cent) compared to cities (9 per cent). One per cent of children admitted to sharing intimate photos or videos, and seven per cent had shared personal details like their addresses with strangers online. The 15-18 age group was found to be the most at risk and also the most aware that they had experienced unsafe situations. Instagram was linked to 77 per cent of these cases. Only about a third of parents reported these serious incidents to the police, with many preferring simply to delete the accounts and try to move on.</p><p><strong>Some key problems that leave children vulnerable online are:</strong></p><p>a) Many children spend unlimited time on screens at home. Without supervision, unscrupulous elements could easily find and talk to them. Kids, being naturally curious, often explore the internet oblivious to the dangers.</p><p>b) That many adults–parents, teachers, and even those in charge–don’t understand these online dangers is disconcerting. They don’t know how to spot the warning signs, how to stop the harm, or what to do if something bad happens. This lack of knowledge means many serious incidents can go unnoticed, leaving children unsafe.</p><p>c) Children, especially teenagers, start chatting with people they don’t know online. Wanting to be liked or popular can make them talk to strangers. </p><p>d) Some children share private details about themselves – like their full names, phone numbers, addresses, or even private photos and videos – with strangers they met online. This is very risky.</p><p>e)Children who are hurt online often feel ashamed or too scared of their parents’ reaction to speak up. They suffer in silence, keeping the pain to themselves. This silence sadly emboldens abusers to continue exploiting children.</p><p><strong>What can we do?</strong></p><p>Talk openly: Parents must create a safe space at home where children feel comfortable sharing what happens online. They need to know they will be supported for telling the truth.</p><p>Set clear rules: Parents should be aware of the apps their children use and regularly check their privacy settings. They must establish clear and sensible rules for how long children can be online and what they can do.</p><p>Teach online safety skills: Teach children how to protect their personal information online. Explain why sharing personal details is dangerous and that it’s always okay to say “no” and leave a chat if something goes wrong.</p><p>Watch for warning signs: Parents must watch for changes in a child’s mood or behaviour. If they suddenly stop enjoying their favourite activities, seem to have less confidence in themselves, are worrying a lot, or if their schoolwork gets worse, these could be significant signs of online trouble. Beyond the home, everyone who works with children, such as teachers and school staff, needs regular training to identify online dangers and report problems promptly. Child protection groups must also run campaigns across communities to raise awareness about online risks, how to report abuse, and where to get help.</p><p>While the internet offers many wonderful things, it also poses significant dangers for our children. Merely knowing about online dangers isn’t enough; they need to be quickly addressed and nipped in the bud. We can’t afford to be complacent when it comes to online child safety.</p><p><em>(The author is an independent writer. Views are personal)</em></p>
<p>When schools closed their doors during the Covid-19 lockdowns and learning and playtime moved online for children across India, this shift was widely welcomed. But no one truly saw the serious hidden problems it would bring. </p><p>The harsh reality we’re still seeing is a rise in online bullying, besides a surge in online sexual abuse and exploitation.</p><p>This continuing, growing threat to children has been confirmed by a recent study from the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and ChildFund India. The study, which examined over 900 schoolchildren aged 8 to 18, found that one in six teenagers had connected with strangers online, and one in ten had even met them in person. Boys (17 per cent) were more likely to engage in such risky behaviour than girls (4 per cent), and it was more common in rural areas (12 per cent) compared to cities (9 per cent). One per cent of children admitted to sharing intimate photos or videos, and seven per cent had shared personal details like their addresses with strangers online. The 15-18 age group was found to be the most at risk and also the most aware that they had experienced unsafe situations. Instagram was linked to 77 per cent of these cases. Only about a third of parents reported these serious incidents to the police, with many preferring simply to delete the accounts and try to move on.</p><p><strong>Some key problems that leave children vulnerable online are:</strong></p><p>a) Many children spend unlimited time on screens at home. Without supervision, unscrupulous elements could easily find and talk to them. Kids, being naturally curious, often explore the internet oblivious to the dangers.</p><p>b) That many adults–parents, teachers, and even those in charge–don’t understand these online dangers is disconcerting. They don’t know how to spot the warning signs, how to stop the harm, or what to do if something bad happens. This lack of knowledge means many serious incidents can go unnoticed, leaving children unsafe.</p><p>c) Children, especially teenagers, start chatting with people they don’t know online. Wanting to be liked or popular can make them talk to strangers. </p><p>d) Some children share private details about themselves – like their full names, phone numbers, addresses, or even private photos and videos – with strangers they met online. This is very risky.</p><p>e)Children who are hurt online often feel ashamed or too scared of their parents’ reaction to speak up. They suffer in silence, keeping the pain to themselves. This silence sadly emboldens abusers to continue exploiting children.</p><p><strong>What can we do?</strong></p><p>Talk openly: Parents must create a safe space at home where children feel comfortable sharing what happens online. They need to know they will be supported for telling the truth.</p><p>Set clear rules: Parents should be aware of the apps their children use and regularly check their privacy settings. They must establish clear and sensible rules for how long children can be online and what they can do.</p><p>Teach online safety skills: Teach children how to protect their personal information online. Explain why sharing personal details is dangerous and that it’s always okay to say “no” and leave a chat if something goes wrong.</p><p>Watch for warning signs: Parents must watch for changes in a child’s mood or behaviour. If they suddenly stop enjoying their favourite activities, seem to have less confidence in themselves, are worrying a lot, or if their schoolwork gets worse, these could be significant signs of online trouble. Beyond the home, everyone who works with children, such as teachers and school staff, needs regular training to identify online dangers and report problems promptly. Child protection groups must also run campaigns across communities to raise awareness about online risks, how to report abuse, and where to get help.</p><p>While the internet offers many wonderful things, it also poses significant dangers for our children. Merely knowing about online dangers isn’t enough; they need to be quickly addressed and nipped in the bud. We can’t afford to be complacent when it comes to online child safety.</p><p><em>(The author is an independent writer. Views are personal)</em></p>