Cyber Security: Creating a Safer Digital World
Cyber Security: Creating a Safer Digital World
“The internet opens doors to endless possibilities, but ensuring safety in the digital world is a shared responsibility.”
The teaching staff of Don Bosco High School, Matunga, participated in an online session on Cyber Security, organised by Project CaCa on 7 October 2026. The session was led by Ms. Pragya Tank, who highlighted the growing concerns surrounding cybercrime in India and across the world.
She began by sharing facts and figures that underscored the alarming rise in cyber offences. In an age when the world is literally at our fingertips, safety can no longer be confined to the physical world. It is equally important to remain alert, informed and vigilant in the virtual world.
The session shed light on the growing vulnerability of children and adolescents to online threats. Many young people have had negative online experiences, including exposure to morphed images and videos. Unfortunately, several incidents go unreported, as children may hesitate to seek help due to a lack of trust in authorities or even in their own parents and family members.
Ms. Pragya explained how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the way the internet and digital devices are used. The growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly AI tools that imitate human communication and are marketed as companions or sources of friendship, has further increased concerns about children's online safety. She discussed common cyber offences and risks, including those arising through gaming platforms, sexting, photo morphing and cyberbullying.
The resource person also emphasised the importance of recognising possible warning signs that a child may be experiencing distress. These may include self-harming behaviour, anger, fearfulness, nightmares, risky behaviour, sleep disturbances, social isolation and unexplained physical complaints such as body aches. She further explained some of the common conversational tactics used by online predators to groom children and manipulate them into inappropriate or harmful interactions.
An important part of the session focused on the legal provisions under the Information Technology Act and other relevant laws that protect children from cyber offences. Ms. Pragya also explained the process of filing complaints and introduced several online platforms that assist in reporting cybercrime and addressing the misuse of intimate images.
The following websites were shared for reference:
● National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: https://cybercrime.gov.in/
● StopNCII.org: https://stopncii.org/
● Take It Down: https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/
She also introduced the POCSO e-Box, an online complaint mechanism that enables children to report sexual abuse.
Ms. Tank reiterated that ensuring children's safety in the digital world requires a three-pronged approach: awareness, training and capacity building. Teachers and school counsellors must be equipped to identify and respond to online threats, children must be educated to navigate the digital world responsibly, and parents must be empowered to provide guidance and support in a safe and trusting environment.
The session concluded with an important reminder: the internet is an integral part of modern life, and children must have the freedom to access information, explore opportunities and learn. However, this freedom must be accompanied by responsible guidance, appropriate safeguards and the collective commitment of adults to protect children from digital harm. Creating a safer online environment is not merely a technological responsibility; it is a shared duty of educators, parents and society at large.