In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, artificial intelligence has moved from science fiction to an everyday reality that shapes how our children learn, play, and interact with the world.

The digital era has brought new tasks and obligations for young parents. It is essential for parents to ensure that technology is used in a constructive way to educate and grow their children. At the same time, parents must protect their children online by being fully aware of the appropriate tools and strategies. To address these challenges, Social Media Matters hosted Ctrl+Shift+Empower, an evening which brought together a diverse group of parents, academicians, platforms, and organizations to discuss strategies and ideas for improving their child's internet experience.

At the same time, parents must protect their children online by being fully aware of the appropriate tools and strategies. To address these challenges, Social Media Matters hosted Ctrl+Shift+Empower, an evening which brought together a diverse group of parents, academicians, platforms, and organizations to discuss strategies and ideas for improving their child's internet experience. The event was attended by several notable speakers, including Ambika Khurana, Director of Public Policy at Netflix India, Gowree Gokhale, Partner at Nishith Desai Associates, Harpreeth Suri, Mom Influencer, Munjal Shroff, Director & COO at Graphiti, and Seema Sahay, Principal at GD Goenka School, Sarita Vihar.

During the discussion, the speakers shared their insights and experiences on how parents can ensure their child's safe and positive online experience. They also discussed the challenges faced by parents in the digital era and how the tech industry can work together with parents to address these challenges.

One of the key takeaways from the event was the importance of involving parents and academicians in shaping the focus on user safety. Technology is a powerful tool that can enrich our lives, but it’s essential to ensure age-appropriate content to protect our children’s well-being. Tools like Parental Controls are developed to provide a helping hand to the guardians to mentor their children’s digital experiences.

"Munjal Shroff, Director & COO at Graphiti said, "Meaningful conversation with our children are invaluable, and it is crucial to prioritize them. They should always know that we are completely invested in those conversations. When we actively engage, we create an encouraging environment and create channels for open communications." 

The programme was a great success, with attendees leaving with a better understanding of how to navigate their child's online experience. We hope that this event will encourage more involvement and engagement among parents and organizations to foster a good discussion that will assist the tech sector in shaping their products with a focus on user safety. In conclusion, it is crucial for parents to be aware of the appropriate tools and strategies to protect their children online. The event highlighted the importance of involving parents and academicians in shaping the focus on user safety and encouraged meaningful conversations with children. By working together, we can ensure a safe and positive online experience for our children.

As per a report by Statista, the internet penetration rate in India saw an elevation of up to 45% in 2021 from a very minimal penetration rate of 4% in 2007.

A recent news report by India Today highlights how no checks in place for in-app purchases and parent negligence over a seven-year-old child’s usage