Call for Digital Safety Framework: Protecting Students, Teachers, and Parents

At a recent summit in New Delhi, experts emphasized the urgent need for a coordinated digital safety framework involving government, educational institutions, and technology companies to protect children online.

During the Internet Safety Summit, attendees highlighted significant challenges, including insufficient data on children's online activity, inadequate teacher training on digital media, and low digital literacy among parents.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is actively developing digital safety content for middle school students and training modules for teachers. However, there remains a critical gap in understanding the actual number of children using digital platforms.

Himanshu Gupta, Secretary of CBSE, pointed out the lack of unified data, stating, "Millions of students are online, but we do not have a clear picture of their activity on digital media platforms. Each platform gathers data, yet there is no standardized way to analyze it collectively."

CBSE is focusing on creating annual awareness calendars for parents and digital safety curricula for students in grades six to eight.

Vikash Chourasia from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology emphasized the necessity of robust child protection systems in light of the increasing exposure of minors to unregulated content online.

He stated, "There is an urgent demand for data-driven awareness programs because the general understanding of digital content and app functionalities is limited, particularly with encrypted messaging apps."

Challenges also stem from generational gaps in perceptions of online safety, with parents often viewing the internet as a threat while students see it as a means of identity and self-expression. Sameer Arora, Principal of Shiv Nadar School, noted that emotional issues related to body image and peer validation are the real safety challenges today.

Panellists urged parents to model responsible digital habits, asserting that without adult compliance, schools cannot effect change. Vishnu Karthik, co-founder of Kaivalya Learning, remarked, "The ecosystem must prioritize the example set by adults to cultivate safe technology practices."

While India's digital education landscape is evolving rapidly, the absence of reliable data and awareness continues to expose millions of young internet users to potential risks.