International Day of the Girl Child: Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Children suggests safe online spaces

SHILLONG:

In a bid to ward off the negative impacts of cyber activities on children, the chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Children, I. Syiem, has suggested installation of safety systems for parental monitoring.

Speaking to The Northeast Today (TNT) on the occasion of 'International Day of the Girl Child' themed “Digital generation. Our Generation”, she pointed out that students have become dependent on technology for their educational needs, and therefore it becomes necessary to monitor their activities online.

Syiem observed that children are vulnerable to cyber-crimes, given the accelerated use of technology for every purpose. Learning in the era of COVID-19 has, besides taking education online, also brought about many challenges pertaining to the vast web domain that children are exposed to.

“Even if they do have access, they may be vulnerable to predators online and other negative cyber activities. In fact, parental monitoring and safety systems installed by digital corporations should be mandatory. This applies to children everywhere,” Syiem said.

This year's International Day of the Girl Child stresses on how to close gendered digital access and skills gaps, support safe online spaces, and leverage the power of technology to advance girls’ and women’s education. It also lays a thrust on gender equality and ensures that girls are empowered to maximise their potential both online and offline.

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