Experts: Children Need Digital Safety Skills, Not Just Bans

Even with the recently adopted ban in Azerbaijan on the use of social media by children under 16, the habit of being online is already firmly taking root: children come into contact with the digital environment one way or another, and even after the restrictions are lifted, they will strive to become active users of communication platforms again. Therefore, it is critically important that by that time the child has developed basic digital safety skills—this will help them resist a range of cyber threats in the future, including online fraud, cyberbullying, and other digital risks.

According to a MEDİA study, nearly 90% of survey participants believe that children's use of social media negatively affects their education and upbringing. This figure underscores how acutely society perceives the risks of the digital environment. At the same time, the main pillar of a child's safety is not only parental control but also their own awareness: the ability to recognize threats and respond to them appropriately. Parents will need to take these risks into account and build not just a restrictive but an educational strategy: explain, show by example, and regularly discuss with the child the rules of safe behavior on the internet.

First of all, it is worth explaining to the child a few simple rules:

• Do not share personal information with strangers—address, phone number, school details, passwords, and other information that could help identify the child or their family.

• Do not click on suspicious links, even if they were sent by an acquaintance or promise a gift, discount, or participation in an interesting contest.

• Before posting photos or videos, think about what information about yourself or your location they might reveal and what consequences publishing personal data could lead to.

• If a stranger suggests moving to another messenger, asks for a photo, data, or to keep correspondence secret from parents, the child should know that they must tell an adult about it.

• When encountering suspicious or unpleasant content, do not try to solve the problem alone, but turn to parents or another trusted adult.

At the same time, digital safety should not be built solely on prohibitions and total control. It is important to create an atmosphere in which the child is not afraid to tell parents about their mistake or an unpleasant situation on the internet.

Parents should also use protective tools: enable two-factor authentication, install updates on devices, use strong passwords, and set up parental control and malware blocking solutions, as well as protection against attempts to visit fake websites and unwanted calls. But even the most modern technology cannot replace digital literacy and open dialogue with the child.

The main task of parents is not just to limit the child's access to potentially dangerous content, but to teach them to independently recognize risks and behave safely in the digital environment. The earlier such habits are formed, the more confidently the child will be able to use the internet as they grow up.