Social media is now a regular part of many children's lives, helping them learn, connect and have fun. However, it also brings risks such as bullying, strangers, scams and harmful content. Social media safety means teaching children about online privacy, recognising danger and knowing when and how to ask for help.
Children use social media to chat with friends, enjoy videos and games, learn, share interests and stay connected. For older children, it can be an important part of friendships and social life. However, it can also expose them to risks. Social media for kids needs clear boundaries, guidance and safe habits.
Some of the most common social media risks for children include:
Also Read: https://www.cry.org/blog/cyber-crime-against-children/
Cyberbullying can involve cruel comments, threats, humiliation, hateful messages, or repeated harassment. The NITI Aayog report identifies it as a major online risk and notes that it can seriously affect a child's emotional and psychological well-being.
A person online may not be who they claim to be. Predators can use social networks and chat platforms to gain a child's trust. Children should therefore understand that an online friendship does not automatically mean the person is safe to trust.
Children may come across violent, sexual, frightening, or otherwise unsuitable material through searches, recommendations, messages, or links. Sometimes this happens accidentally; at other times, children may be encouraged by peers to view it.
A photograph, school name, location, phone number, or family detail may reveal more than a child realises. Poor online privacy can increase the risk of unwanted access to personal information and may expose it to people or organisations that should not have access to it.
Also Read: https://www.cry.org/blog/importance-of-online-safety-for-children-in-india/
Fake profiles, misleading messages, and false offers can trick children into sharing information or clicking unsafe links. Children may also encounter misinformation or fake news, which can be difficult to identify when they have not yet developed strong skills for checking whether information is reliable.
Social media can create pressure to look, behave, or live in a particular way. Children may compare themselves with carefully selected photographs and videos and feel that they are not good enough. Parents can help by reminding them that much of what appears online does not show the complete picture.
Good social media safety begins with a few straightforward habits. Children should understand that privacy, passwords, careful sharing, and knowing when to ask for help are all part of staying safe.
Children should use privacy settings to decide who can see their posts, send messages, or interact with them. Parents can check these settings with their child regularly, as platform features may change. Children should also avoid accepting followers just because they recognise a name or profile picture.
Children should never share details such as their home address, phone number, school, passwords, or exact location. They should also check photographs for clues such as school uniforms, house numbers, or familiar places before posting them.
Use strong, different passwords for important accounts and never share them with friends or strangers. If available, turn on two-factor authentication for added account protection.
Children should only accept requests from people they know and trust in real life. A stranger may use a convincing profile to gain their trust. If someone asks for private information, photographs, or a meeting, children should stop replying and tell a trusted adult.
Before posting anything, children should consider who might see it and whether they would be happy if it were shared elsewhere. They should never share another person's photographs, messages, or personal information without permission.
Children should avoid unknown links, especially messages offering prizes, free items, or urgent rewards. They should never enter personal details or download files unless they know the source is safe. When unsure, they should ask an adult.
If someone behaves in a threatening, abusive, or uncomfortable way, children can block and report the account. Saving screenshots can also help explain what happened to a trusted adult.
Healthy social media for kids includes regular breaks from screens. Children need enough time for sleep, studies, exercise, family, and offline friendships. Parents can set sensible screen-time limits and encourage a balanced daily routine.
Parents play an important role in helping children develop safe digital habits. NITI Aayog's 2025 working paper highlights clear rules, boundaries, education about online risks and open communication as measures that can support children's online safety.
Ask children what they do online, who they talk to and what they enjoy. Make these conversations normal rather than waiting for a problem. Children are more likely to ask for help when they know they will be listened to calmly.
Agree on practical rules around screen time, suitable platforms, privacy, and sharing information. The rules should match the child's age and level of understanding.
Children should learn to recognise warning signs such as requests for private information, suspicious links, fake accounts, threats, inappropriate content, and pressure to keep conversations secret.
Make it clear that reporting something is not the same as getting into trouble. If a child has clicked something unsafe, shared information, or spoken to the wrong person, hiding the problem can make it harder to resolve.
Also Read: https://www.cry.org/blog/child-protection-policies/
They should stop communicating with the person, avoid sending more information and tell a trusted adult. If possible, save screenshots or messages before blocking and reporting the account. If there is an immediate threat to the child's safety, parents should seek appropriate professional or emergency assistance.
India also has the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal for reporting cybercrime. The NITI Aayog report identifies it as one of the country's mechanisms for addressing cybercrime.
Help CRY Protect Children from Online Exploitation and Abuse
Keeping children safe online requires more than monitoring an app. It requires teaching them how to make sensible decisions when an adult is not beside them. Social media safety should therefore be an ongoing conversation at home and at school.
CRY's campaign “Ting Tong” on online safety for children focuses on building awareness and digital resilience among children, parents, caregivers, educators and the wider community, while empowering children to recognise risks and seek help. This reflects an important principle: keeping children safe works best when responsibility is shared.
Explore CRY's Ting Tong Campaign for Online Safety
The internet can give children valuable opportunities to learn, connect, and express themselves. With appropriate privacy settings, clear boundaries, regular conversations, and reliable adult support, children can enjoy those opportunities while being better prepared to recognise and deal with online risks.
Also Read: https://www.cry.org/blog/national-commission-for-protection-of-child-rights/
The main risks include cyberbullying, contact with strangers, inappropriate content, privacy breaches, fake accounts, scams and misinformation. Children may also experience social pressure or spend excessive amounts of time online.
Children should keep their accounts private, avoid sharing personal information, use strong passwords, think before posting, be careful about new followers, avoid suspicious links and block or report unsafe accounts. Most importantly, they should tell a trusted adult when something feels wrong.
Children should avoid sharing their home address, phone number, passwords, exact location, school details and information about their family's daily routine. They should also be careful about photographs that reveal where they live or study.
Parents should combine reasonable monitoring with open communication. They can agree on age-appropriate rules, review privacy settings together, discuss online risks and use parental controls where appropriate. The aim should be to help children develop safe habits rather than relying only on surveillance.
The child should stop responding, avoid sharing further information, block or report the account and tell a trusted adult. If the person makes threats or there is a serious safety concern, the matter should be reported promptly through the appropriate channel.
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