PANAJI
As the Goa government begins examining whether children under 16 should face restrictions on social media use, a child protection organisation has welcomed the move, saying digital platforms have increasingly become a gateway for abuse, manipulation and exploitation of minors.
In a letter to Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte, the organisation, Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) Goa stated that the formation of a committee to study the psychological, social, and cybersecurity implications of social media exposure among minors was a timely and responsible step toward safeguarding children in the digital environment.
“In many situations, children unknowingly share personal information, photographs, or engage with unknown individuals online, which later leads to exploitation, bullying, grooming, or other forms of abuse. The rapid growth of digital communication tools has, unfortunately, made children more vulnerable when adequate safeguards are not in place,” reads the communiqué jointly written by Director Audrey Pinto and Coordinator Emidio Pinho to the minister.
SCAN Goa said it has handled over 4,000 child abuse cases in 12 years, many involving contact or manipulation through social media and messaging apps. The group stressed the need for parental awareness and digital responsibility, urging parents to supervise children’s online access through monitored Google accounts that enable content filtering and activity tracking.
“...Parents must also be aware of certain features within commonly used applications that may allow children to conceal conversations. For instance, messaging platforms such as WhatsApp now provide a “Chat Lock” feature, through which a specific chat can be hidden and accessed only by entering a password. Many parents remain unaware of such features, which may prevent them from identifying potential risks or inappropriate communication,” it said.
