Podcast : What is Positive Parenting in the Digital Age?
As screens shape children’s lives, parenting moves into the digital world. And parents grapple with navigating this space.
A podcast recorded in Cambodia under our SCROL project shares vital insights from a Buddhist religious leader, a senior psychologist, a cyber security expert, a youth advocate and a parent.
Online child safety : The need of the hour
Over 300 million children in the world suffer online abuse. These dangers take the form of :
- Online grooming, where predators manipulate emotional connections with children to exploit them
- Sexual extortion, where predators demand money threatening to expose explicit images
- Spread of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and use of AI to generate CSAM.
Worldwide, children use the internet on a daily basis. Parents and families as their first line of defence must therefore be equipped with the knowledge and tools to ensure that children can be safe.
A multifaceted expert panel podcast under our SCROL project in Cambodia discusses how parents can navigate these challenges. We talk about digital literacy, safety and mental health care. We explore changing trends, parental values and duties.
Here are some positive practices discussed which can be applied to global contexts :
Positive Parenting Behaviours
Buddhist religious leader Kou Sopheap mentions that parents are the first teachers, protectors and role models for their children. Therefore parents must be careful about what behaviours children learn from them.
“Now the children come and tell me that my mom, at 1:00 or 2:00 a.m., she is still scrolling and not resting”, mentions the venerable teacher.
It is critical that parents set good examples for their children in terms of online use; replacing their screen time with quality family time as much as possible.
Ms Chhorn Rada, senior psychologist, highlights the importance of not practicing fear-based parenting. This further pushes the child into a shell.
“Positive parenting means educating children with love, not anger”, she says “If parents start blaming their children, they will not come and talk to them the next time”, she adds, stressing how emotionally-supportive parental response is critical.
She explains the importance of visibly demonstrating understanding and assurance to your child; that you are there for them, no matter what. This builds trust and connection.
“When children feel they cannot connect with their parents, siblings or families, they seek support outside. This makes them place trust in strangers they encounter online”, she adds.
Positive parenting means educating children with love, not anger
— Ms Chhorn Rada, Senior Psychologist
Parental Awareness
Mr Chea Naro, cyber security expert from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, explains how parents need to build familiarity with technology to best leverage protection.
“All phones already have limiting and safety functions, but parents don’t know how to use them”, he mentions highlighting the importance in making the effort to learn about privacy settings and functions.
He even lays emphasis on monitoring children’s internet use and limiting screen time.
Ms Chhorn Rada, senior psychologist, further adds, “We must not allow any screen time for children under three years of age. This delays their speech and language development.”
Adults must step in and take action
— Mearodey, Youth Advocate
Reporting abuse
The conversation also steers towards the importance of reporting online harm and abuse.
“Adults must step in and take action”, says Ms. Mearodey, youth advocate, in the context of reporting.
She further highlights that reporting is not only about one child, but about preventing further abuse and holding perpetrators accountable. Mearodey explains that many cases go unreported because children and families are afraid of judgement, blame, or social consequences.
As a parent, DJ Nana talks about how parents may not always know the process of reporting, drawing attention to a gap in knowledge.
“We are confused about what to do first. We need to know that reporting will help, not harm our child”, she says, calling for institutional child protection systems to be more child-friendly.
