Magic or trap of the virtual world? This Children's Day, teach children about cyber safety
Children's Day 2025: The virtual world is dangerous for children and can make them vulnerable to cyberbullying and fraud. Parents should have a dialogue to ensure their safety. On Children's Day, learn how to keep children out of the virtual world.
Children's Day 2025: Children's Day is celebrated every year on 14 November in India, dedicated to children's rights, education and a better future.
Therefore, on this day, it is important to warn our children about the dangers they are already exposed to, or will face in the future. That danger is the virtual world.
The internet, social media and online games are becoming a part of children's lives. While the internet provides entertainment, information and friendship, it also holds many dangerous truths, from which it is very important to protect children.
Parental negligence and the dangers of the virtual world
In today's world, we give children mobile phones at a young age, which gradually leads to their addiction. They quickly learn how to connect to the internet and then enter the virtual world.
According to a survey conducted in the UK, 34% of parents don't know which online accounts their children use, and 26% don't know who they communicate with online.
Some parents attribute this to children's cunning, while others say that monitoring so many apps becomes difficult. Consequently, due to lack of control over children's online activities, they often become victims of cyberbullying, online fraud, or deception by strangers.
The situation is similar in India. Here, many parents' accounts are emptied simply because their children, while gaming online, click on a link that gives them access to their money account. Sometimes, they even give out OTPs to strangers.
Sometimes, under the influence of social media, they take wrong steps, including suicide or even killing someone. Everyone knows how deeply negative content on the internet can impact children's mental health.
The question then is how to educate children about the dangers of the virtual world. The answer is that parents and teachers must work together in this direction. Governments must also enact laws regarding this.
What parents can do
- Only laws are not enough to protect children, parents also have to play an active role.
- Use browser settings and parental controls to prevent children from accessing inappropriate sites.
- Set time limits – such as how long you can play games or use social media each day.
- Talk, don't scold. Ask children open-ended questions and let them express themselves.
- Build a relationship of trust, so that if the child ever gets into any online problem, he can first seek help from his parents.
Conversation is the biggest weapon
Have regular conversations with your children. Don't just set rules for them, explain how the virtual world can harm them. Share your experiences and give them examples. If you discuss this issue regularly, they will gradually distance themselves from the virtual world.
Also, tell them not to interact with strangers online. Don't share personal information. Report any disturbing content immediately.