A recent roundtable in Bengaluru examined how digital literacy, parental responsibility, and school engagement can empower children against online risks, emphasizing the importance of age-appropriate online experiences rather than unrestricted exposure.
- Parental involvement is crucial to building children’s digital resilience.
- Schools and digital literacy programs play a key role in safe online experiences.
- Age-appropriate internet access and monitoring reduce online harms.
What happened
On May 15, a roundtable held under the Chatham House Rule in Bengaluru brought together parents, educators, and experts to discuss child safety on digital platforms. Participants debated the role of age verification, parental controls, and schools in mitigating online risks for children. The conversation underscored the complexity of balancing children’s agency with the need to protect them from harmful content and privacy risks associated with sharing personal data online.
A key theme was that child online protection cannot rely solely on technology or regulations but must involve building children’s digital resilience through education and active parental involvement. Some participants raised concerns about privacy trade-offs linked to age verification systems, while others stressed that restricting exposure without education could hinder children's development and access to digital opportunities.
Why it matters
The rapid increase in children’s internet use worldwide, including in India, exposes them to risks such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and privacy invasions. This roundtable reflects growing recognition that digital safety is not just a technical challenge but also a social and educational one. Building digital literacy and agency helps children make safer choices and better resist online harms, enhancing their long-term well-being.
Parental engagement emerged as a pivotal factor, with experts advocating for co-viewing and guided internet use, especially for children up to age 12. This hands-on approach supports healthy brain development and helps children distinguish safe from unsafe content. Schools also have an important role in supporting digital literacy initiatives and creating safe environments where children can learn about internet risks and responsible use under supervision.
What to watch next
Efforts to implement effective, child-centered digital literacy programs in Indian schools will be important to monitor, including how they integrate parental involvement. Policymakers are likely to explore regulatory frameworks inspired by international examples that emphasize children’s agency and privacy while controlling harmful exposure.
Another key area for ongoing attention is the development and acceptance of responsible age verification mechanisms that do not infringe unduly on privacy. Also, community and mental health experts may increasingly contribute guidance on balancing protection and autonomy to ensure children’s digital experiences support their growth rather than hinder it.