India must make online child safety a priority
Mobilise civil society, tech firms and the State to build a platform that addresses risks and provides solutions
With over 470 million children under 18, India has the largest child population in the world. The explosion in Internet use and mobile access in the country has meant that a significant proportion of these children are now active Internet users. At the same time, a variety of cyber threats to children has emerged in India, making the online safety of children and young people a matter of national concern.
Children are vulnerable to cyberbullying, online sexual abuse and exploitation, the online enticement to illegal behaviour, and other horrific practices such as ‘grooming’ or the preparation of children for sexual manipulation. Internet dares such as the Blue Whale Challenge, for instance, which has allegedly claimed the lives of five teenagers in India, are another emerging risk. There is also enough evidence to show that the Internet and social media play a part in the radicalisation of children and the young.
Messages on social media have a demonstrated ability to incite violence. Recently, two young men from Assam were lynched to death by a mob on the suspicion of being child abductors, a suspicion fuelled by an inauthentic message circulating on social media. Facebook has revealed that in the first quarter of 2018, there has been an increase in posts related to graphic violence. Of every 10,000 views, 22 to 27 were views of content containing graphic violence.
The important thing is that change is possible. Sustained advocacy and action could have a transformative effect, countering online risks, and optimising the potential of the Internet to empower individuals and promote peace. Priority interventions in the Indian context could include the creation of more partnerships to promote online child safety and sustained research on the subject. At Unicef and Unesco, we believe it is critical to mobilise parents, teachers, civil society, tech companies, and, of course, government leaders around a platform that addresses multiple risks and provides solutions. It is imperative too that we recognise that the young are change agents and equal partners in peacebuilding and development.
Finally, responding to a need articulated by young people globally, substantial investments must be made in media and information literacy, and the inculcation of critical thinking as a 21st-century skill. Improved knowledge, skills and attitudes among children and the young may prove to be the single most effective antidote to online radicalisation and sexual abuse, and a catalyst for the promotion of social harmony. Yasmin Ali Haque is the Unicef representative for India. Eric Falt is director and Unesco Representative of the UNESCO Cluster Office for India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka The views expressed are personal