In today’s digital age, children are very close to mobile and internet. At a young age, he gets access to mobile and internet in his hand. But children are uninterested and innocent, due to which they are also becoming an easy victim of cyber crime. Cyber criminals cheat with children in many ways in which their identity is stolen, embezzlement of money by taking access to mobile and sometimes they also fall prey to physical and mental abuse.
Recently, actor Akshay Kumar revealed that an unknown person had sought pornographic pictures from his 13 -year -old daughter Nitara Kumar while playing online video games. Nitara immediately went and told her mother. His daughter survived, but there are many such incidents in which innocent children go up with cyber criminals.
Cybercrime is increasing rapidly in the country
The recent report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) states that cybercrime figures in the country are increasing rapidly and crime against children has also reached a record level. The report said that in 2023, about 1,77,335 cases of crime were registered against children, which was 9.2 percent more than last year. According to NCRB, there has been a huge increase in cyber crime against children from 2021 to 2022.
Children’s Easy Target of Cyber Affections
Cyber criminals target children through platforms like social media, many types of apps and online games. They gather personal information of children and their parents by giving them many kinds of greed, winning faith and knowing their weaknesses. After this, those information is used to recover money, blackmail or bank accounts.
Online gaming addiction can be fatal
Some time ago, in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, a sixth class student committed suicide after online fraud. Investigation revealed that the child transferred Rs 14 lakh from his father’s bank account to the account of cyber criminals while playing the online game. When the family got a glimpse of it, the student took such a dreadful step in stress and shock.
How to spread online gaming
The online gaming market in India is growing rapidly and gaming addiction is increasing among children as well. Many online games cost fees to play while many games are free on which children get attracted quickly. However, the highest risk is in multiplayer gaming. Here more than one people play online games. During this time, they can also talk among themselves and share many information.
It is a matter of intimidation that many times cyber criminals call themselves children and join the games with other children. They send them access to their phone by sending them a link or file in things. Many times they also ask children personal details, bank account details, passwords and photo-video.
In the world of cyber crime, children have many different types of online threats that can cause them physically and mentally harm. In such a situation, it is the duty of the parents to take precautions to protect their child from cyber crime. Here we are telling you some ways by which parents can save their children from being victims of cyber crime.
Tell children both the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet
The first step to protect your child from cyber crime is to educate them. Many times when parents are busy and they have to remove children from themselves, they make them busy in mobile or online game. Children playing with mobile many times accidentally dial any number. Whereas the negligence of internet use and online games can also make children and their parents in trouble.
Parents should tell their children the good and bad things of internet and online games. If you tell them the disadvantages of online games, then the children themselves will get away from them.
It is also important for parents to be educated and aware
Parents are also very important for the safety of their children to be aware and well educated towards cybercrime, only then they can guide their children properly. If you are a guardian, then you can also gather information related to it by visiting the National Cybercrime Portal.
In the website of Delhi Police Cybercrime Unit, some suggestions related to cyber security have been given for parents. According to the website, educate yourself about social media security and warn your young children and teenagers as well. Tell them about the dangers of posting photos or videos online. Keep the computer in the open space instead of the children’s room.
Parents should keep an eye on who their children are talking to and which site are going to. This is not a violation of their privacy, but it is a part of their upbringing in digital space.
There are strict rules for children under 13 years of age for many other apps like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat. In such a situation, do not help your child break these rules.
Keep an eye on the behavior of children
If you see a sudden change in your child’s behavior, then apart from its online activities on Facebook and WhatsApp, also check its physical activities.
UNICEF said, cyber calling is a big threat to children
UNICEF (United Nations Children Fund), an international organization working for children’s rights and care around the world, also told in its guidelines that in cyberbulling, someone in cyberbulling uses online platforms like social media, messaging and games to insult, insult or embarrass some more.
Online bullying can affect your child’s confidence, mental health and physical health. Even if young children do not have their own social media accounts, they can still chat with other people on gaming apps or chat rooms and during this time they can be a victim of cyber bullying.
Control on internet access is necessary
Limit is very important for children on using internet. If you want, you can decide when and where your child can use the Internet and which websites or apps can reach. Keep an eye on your child during the use of internet.
Open communication is important
Talk about yourself and their online experience with your child, whether they are good experiences or bad. Share with your children how much you care about them. This increases confidence in your soft mind and makes them feel more comfortable with you. Tell them how to deal with any negative experience on the Internet.
Use parental control settings
Parental controls are such settings or software that parents use to control and monitor the activities of the child on electronic devices and online platforms. These settings allow parents to prevent children’s access to wrong content, fix the time limit for the use of the device, download the app and control online shopping.
Teach children to keep private information confidential
Teach your child to protect your personal information. Tell them that they do not have to give their name, address and phone number to any unknown person. Help them to make a strong password and avoid using the same password for more than one account.
What to do if the child becomes a victim of cyber crime
If your child becomes a victim of cyber crime, then you do not have to hide it, but should complain about this incident immediately by taking the child in confidence. You should give information related to the incident like screenshot, message or link to the police or National Cyber Crime Reporting portal.
Doing this will not only help the police to catch the culprit, but it also ensures that in future your child can be safe from any kind of online danger. If the child is very nervous then you can also take the help of a counselor. Remember that open communication and immediate action are guaranteed the safety of your child.
—- End —-