JAMMU: Last year a survey conducted by LocalCircles indicated a growing demand for a data protection law that would mandate parental consent for children under 18 when they join social media, OTT/video, and online gaming platforms. The survey revealed that one in two urban Indian parents are concerned about their children's addiction to these platforms. The survey also found that children aged between 9 and 17 are spending between three and six hours daily online. Promoting safe online behaviour, especially among the young and vulnerable users calls for a combination of protective measures, awareness campaigns, and real-time support.
Here is an overview of four impactful initiatives that are successfully raising awareness about online safety.
#StaySafeOnline - UNICEF India
According to UNICEF, children make up one-third of all internet users globally. To help them navigate the digital world safely, UNICEF India launched ASLI DOST #StaySafeOnline campaign. Apart from offering a 24x7 child helpline (1098) for those in distress, the campaign also encourages users to practice positive behaviour like demonstrating kindness online, supporting peers by sending positive messages and not sharing hurtful or embarrassing stories or photos. The campaign advises users to review their privacy settings, be cautious when accepting friend requests and respect other people's right to privacy. The campaign also encourages reporting posts that are against community standards, blocking abusers and discussing safety concerns with trusted adults.
SnehAI - Population Foundation of India
Population Foundation of India (PFI) is a globally recognized Indian NGO committed to gender equality and empowering individuals. By integrating technology, community engagement, and evidence-based engagement with policymakers and media, PFI leads efforts in family planning, sexual and reproductive health and population dynamics. To address the gap in accurate information, PFI developed SnehAI, a first-of-its-kind chatbot designed to raise awareness about sexual and reproductive health and promote safe online behaviours. Named after the protagonist of the edutainment show 'Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon, SnehAI provides a safe, anonymous, and non-judgmental space for users Since its launch in 2019, over 300,000 users have engaged with the chatbot, exchanging over 13 million messages to learn about their health and wellbeing though engaging videos, stories and quizzes. SnehAI is available on WhatsApp, Messenger and as a voice bot on its website.
Scam Se Bacho - Meta
Scam Se Bacho is a digital safety initiative by Meta in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It leverages WhatsAppâs vast reach and empowers users with tools to stay protected from online scams and fraudulent communications. It also guides them to identify, report, and prevent cyber fraud. As part of its efforts, the initiative includes "train the trainer" workshop for DoT officials, Sanchar Mitras, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), and field units to strengthen awareness at the grassroots level. To ensure broader accessibility, user safety content will be translated into multiple regional languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Gujarati.
e-Raksha, CyberPeace Foundation and NCERT
In 2023, NCERT, in collaboration with CyberPeace Foundation and UNESCO, launched e-Raksha, a competition aimed at promoting cyber safety and responsible digital behaviour through creative expression. Designed to encourage safe internet use, the contest invited participants to develop solutions through various formats, including art, videos, reels, essays, blogs, articles, software applications and prototypes. The contest was open to students (from class 6 onwards), educators, educational institutions, parents and caregivers. Participants explored themes such as privacy, online safety and security, cyber fraud, cyberbullying, phishing, vishing, and malware. Initiatives like e-Raksha play a crucial role in fostering positive online behaviour across all sections of society.
