Punjab Government's Digital Safety Net: Protecting Minors Online

Punjab's IT Minister Aman Arora emphasized the state's commitment to safeguarding minors online, proposing legal frameworks and international best practices for social media use by children. The 'Digital Safety Net' strategy involves schools, parents, and law enforcement, promoting digital education and safe online environments for children.

The Punjab government is taking significant steps to ensure the online safety of its younger population. Punjab's IT Minister, Aman Arora, highlighted the initiatives during a legislative session, focusing on addressing social media use among minors with a comprehensive digital strategy.

Arora emphasized the need for clear regulations categorizing age-specific content and highlighted recent international policy movements, like Australia's social media restrictions for minors. The minister expressed concerns about online addiction, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts involving schools, parents, and the government to foster a safer digital environment.

'Cyber Jaago,' a proactive initiative, trains teachers as 'Digital Mentors' in government schools to educate students about online safety. To bolster this effort, Punjab has integrated a national cybercrime helpline with its emergency response system, allowing citizens to report cyber incidents swiftly. The state is also promoting physical activities to divert children's focus from screens.

(With inputs from agencies.)