By skyforbes Let’s Talk Digital Safety
Growing up, my parents had their hands full. I remember them constantly telling me who to steer clear of, where not to hang about, and who not to get into conversations with. “Don’t talk to strangers,” they’d warn, or “run away if someone you don’t know tries to talk to you.” And then there was always that classic line: “Stay away from that boy or that girl…”
Back then, as kids, we generally knew the score in our neighbourhood. We understood who was who, who to be friends with, and who to avoid. The dangers, when they appeared, felt pretty clear and close to home.
But things are genuinely different now, aren’t they?
Everything’s so accessible online. Suddenly, TikTok becomes this vast new neighbourhood, buzzing with strangers from every corner of the globe. They’re all your new next-door neighbours, in a way. Someone can reach your kids with just a click, often without you even realising it’s happening.
This dramatic shift is precisely why the whole conversation around digital safety has become so urgent. How can we truly ensure our kids are safe on TikTok, or any other platform for that matter, when the lines are so blurred?
Of course, there have been plenty of attempts to tackle this issue.
Many big tech companies have rolled out different approaches, with parental controls being a prime example. These tools can certainly help with monitoring and setting limits, and they’re valuable, no doubt.
But honestly, sometimes they’re just not enough.
Why, you might ask?
Well, kids are incredibly clever. They often find ways around restrictions, or simply use different devices. And parental controls are mostly about blocking or monitoring, aren’t they? They don’t actually teach kids how to make smart decisions for themselves.
True safety, in my view, comes from empowering children to understand the risks and make informed choices, rather than just being confined.
Children, teens, and young adults need more than rules; they need proper education on how to really live safely and smartly on social media. They need to grasp the unwritten rules of online engagement, learn to spot the warning signs that aren’t always obvious, and build their own resilience against negative influences.
That’s exactly what drove me to create the CyberSafe AI Therapy website.
Our platform offers teens and young adults a secure and private space where they can genuinely seek guidance on staying safe online. I like to think of it as a trusted, non-judgemental digital mentor, available whenever they need it. It provides practical advice on key areas like:
- What to share (and what definitely not to): Helping them navigate the tricky balance of personal information online.
- Dealing with online unpleasantness: How to handle bullying, harassment, and difficult conversations without feeling overwhelmed.
- Spotting and responding to threats: Learning to identify potential blackmail, scams, or grooming attempts before they cause serious harm.
- Building a positive online presence: Empowering them to create a digital footprint they can be genuinely proud of.
In a world where digital threats are constantly evolving, CyberSafe AI Therapy is here to equip the next generation. We aim to give them the knowledge and confidence they need to thrive online, truly making their digital neighbourhood a much safer place for everyone.
Visit the website now: CyberSafe AI Therapist
