Safer Internet Day: Giving ‘Ma’s’ Touch for a Safer Online Community

— An article by Velroy Anthony

Today, Tuesday, February 7, is Safer Internet Day 2023. This must be the campaign’s 20th edition! Safer Internet Day has evolved into a major event in the online safety calendar throughout the years. Safer Internet Day began in 2004 as an ambition of the EU SafeBorders project and was adopted as one of the Insafe network’s first actions in 2005. It has since expanded beyond its original geographic boundaries and is currently commemorated in roughly 180 nations and territories worldwide. Every year, Safer Internet Day attempts to promote awareness of growing online challenges and present concerns, ranging from cyberbullying to social networking to digital identity.

There are several ways for individuals to understand how to use the internet safely, including youngsters teaching their parents, parents educating their children, and young people displaying or teaching senior citizens how to use technology and the internet. With financial crime increasing, most Indians are aware that OTP should not be shared, due to constant adverts.

However, there is no such awareness while discussing the internet. As the globe commemorates Safe Online Day under the slogan ‘Together for a Better Internet,’ it is critical that we realize the ground realities of India’s internet security. When it comes to online safety, senior citizens are the most vulnerable. This is largely due to the rapid shift from paper to digital, which left them with little time to adjust. With bank deposits and other bank-related messages appearing on smartphones, many elderly persons became an easy targets for cyber theft.

Senior citizens suffer the same malware and fraud concerns as everyone else. They are, however, more exposed since many of them have less expertise in managing technology. It’s no wonder that children and young people typically know significantly more about the internet than their parents – so perhaps it’s children who should be teaching their parents about online safety, rather than the other way around. Simultaneous with Safer Internet Day (February 7), research indicated that 36% of parents are unsure where to go if their children need internet support, and 57% of young people believe they can help educate their parents and guardians about online safety.

A separate Vodafone study found that nearly half (47%) of parents believe their children know more about digital technology than they do by the age of 12, with 60% wishing they were more familiar with the product, with internet safety topping the survey of regions where parents feel most ill-equipped to help their children.

Presently, Whatsapp is the medium that promotes or circulates misleading and fraudulent schemes and news, and most middle-aged parents or individuals spend a lot of time on WhatsApp, which is causing quite a stir among users. WhatsappEnd-to-end encryption on WhatsApp makes it a somewhat encrypted messaging service that can prevent hackers from accessing your communications. However, WhatsApp users are still vulnerable to fraud including victims’ involvement. is among the most popular apps for internet scams. Despite a multitude of privacy and confidentiality safeguards, consumers continue to fall victim to app fraud. Here are several red flags. Cyber attackers use enticing messages in certain WhatsApp schemes to mislead victims into giving confidential or financial information, such as a password, credit card number, or Social Security number. They send you a malicious link that seems like it came from a legitimate firm and beg you to click on it.

If you click on it, the malicious link will infect your device and get access to your data. When you scrutinize scam emails, you will frequently uncover grammatical or wording issues. Spelling errors are uncommon in communications from respectable organisations such as banks and government offices. If you receive a communication containing grammatical errors, threats, or warnings, it is most likely a fraud. Such texts are typically sent by unknown numbers. Messages including rewards, freebies, and discounts in which you did not engage are generally frauds. In this instance, youngsters who are familiar with the internet should teach or educate their parents about how the internet works and what the safety and restrictions are when using the internet. If you ever meet or confront cyber troubles or fraud, call the cyber crime department or cell; they will be able to assist you and resolve the situation for you. Always use the internet safely and teach your companions how to do the same.

Remember, the internet is a tool that we can all use to make the world a better place. So let’s work together to make sure it stays that way. Happy Safer Internet Day!