Watch & Learn

Afraid of how the internet is affecting your child? Confused about how you can have a constructive conversation with them about their surfing habits? We tell you what you can do.

- Prachi S. Vaish

The Blue Whale Challenge took the world by storm. The gruesome deaths of teens and children shocked parents and guardians into realising how vulnerable kids are in this digital age. And most parents, despite knowing about the menace, found themselves helpless and shut out when they tried to look into their kids’ internet activities to ensure they were safe. They were met with eye-rolls, and “I know what I’m doing”, “Do you think I’m stupid?” and “This is just an excuse to spy on me!”

Monitoring your child’s online activity is a field laden with landmines; every step needs to be well thought-out and delicate. Before embarking on this tricky journey, remember that your goal is not to ‘catch them in the act’. It’s to make sure that they are safe and emotionally healthy. The end goal is to ensure they feel secure enough; that if and when something untoward happens, they feel safe to share it with you, knowing that a solution will be found. This is how you can strike a balance:

BEGIN WITH TRUST

Remember the judicial caveat ‘innocent until proven guilty’? Follow the same principle. If you’ve decided that your child has reached an age where he/she is using the internet independently and you’d like to keep a check, start by establishing a trustworthy foundation, not suspicious questions and accusatory tones that will evoke rebellion. Tell them that while you understand that it’s not possible to stay away from the internet, you don’t want them indulging in anything that could hurt others or themselves, and add the ways in which this can happen. Share with them that you know they are responsible, and that you trust they’ll share anything suspicious with you.

ESTABLISH GADGET USAGE