Educating children about cyber safety

PW invited parents from Garodia International Centre for Learning, Mumbai to share how they teach their children cyber safety.

“My first lesson to my daughter Riyansha (class XI) on online safety was about importance of keeping sensitive personal information private on public platforms, and the concept of digital footprints and how her online actions can have real-world consequences. I also routinely instruct her to keep the camera settings on devices/ apps off when not in use and review privacy settings. By encouraging open lines of communication on a daily basis, we not only discuss her online experiences but also issues related to cyberbullying, hacking, and cyber threats. This also ensures she seeks my help as and when required.” — Monika Koradia, Head of school operations, Garodia International Centre for Learning

“Despite being a working parent, I ensure I give sufficient time and have a daily open line of communication with my daughters — Nilanjana (class VI) and Anaya (class IV) — so I know how their day has been in the online and real worlds. I have educated them on not sharing personal information on websites, being wary of strangers online and dangers of clicking unknown links even if they promise lucrative rewards. I also show them age-appropriate cyber safety videos, discuss if they have experienced anything similar, and their takeaways. The children and I have jointly created a list of internet rules that they follow so they feel they are a part of decision-making and become more inclined to adhere to them” — Sanghamitra Mukherjee, Director, Mars International

“Open communication is the key to regular discussions on sensitive topics like cyber safety. Instead of enforcing restrictions, we model responsible social media use, and our daughter — Shona (class XII) — readily accepts boundaries. We share a family password and maintain transparency in our online activities, fostering mutual trust. Monitoring is done openly without concealing any activities. This practice allows our children the freedom to check our online activities as well. This approach ensures that any abnormal behaviour is quickly noticed and enables our children to navigate the digital world with confidence and responsibility”
— Aditee Ganatra, Entrepreneur

“When Ararthrika (class IX) was first introduced to the internet, we took the opportunity to educate her about its risks and vulnerabilities. We had an open discussion about online safety, highlighting the importance of reporting content that makes her feel uncomfortable, scared or disturbed; being cautious about false information and avoiding unknown downloads that may contain malware; keeping personal information private including passwords, account details and photographs. We also agreed about limiting screen time and adhering to rules around devices usage, and when and where they can be used. By setting these ground rules, we ensure Ararthrika has safe and responsible online experiences” — Swaraa Patil, Freelance remedial therapist.

Also read: Garodia International School: Centre of Excellence for Languages