Calling on Governments to Offer Advanced Digital Child Safety Solutions: Empowering Parents to Safeguard Their Children’s Digital Lives

In the past year, we have witnessed a remarkable rise in parents’ awareness of the challenges posed by the ever-evolving digital world in which our children are growing up. More and more governments are recognizing this reality and making the protection of children online a top priority. While these efforts are commendable, we must broaden the discussion to include innovative solutions that enable parents not just to set screen-time limits or track locations, but to truly understand and support their children’s online activities—particularly on social media.

Around the globe, children are getting smartphones at younger ages. We find ourselves in a paradox: our children can be physically present with us in the living room, but at the same time, immersed in a digital environment that parents can neither see nor fully understand. Questions such as “Who are they talking to?” and “What content are they encountering?” remain unanswered for many parents.

The potential risks are substantial: from bullying in class group chats, to online predators seeking vulnerable targets, to harmful viral challenges on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. A child’s digital presence is now a core aspect of who they are—and parents must be able to be “present” in that space to offer guidance, set boundaries, and provide emotional support.

A Step in the Right Direction We have already seen how certain governments are starting to respond with forward-thinking policies. In Greece, for example, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the prime minister, announced a three-stage plan that includes providing parents with protection services, launching a digital wallet app for children, and pursuing a constitutional approach to the matter. These initiatives not only raise public awareness but also prompt discussions around practical, integrated solutions to the challenges of raising children in a digital era.

Telecom companies in some markets, such as COSMOTE in Greece, have begun offering services that go beyond basic location tracking or screen-time management. These services can monitor children’s social media engagements, alerting parents when harmful content, bullying, or suspicious contacts appear. This is a significant leap forward, yet uptake remains slow. Many parents hesitate to enroll because they fear conflict with their children and worry about compromising trust.

The Real Solutions Prohibiting young children from using social platforms altogether is not a permanent or effective strategy. Eventually, they will join these platforms—often by misrepresenting their age if no safer alternative is provided. Like teaching a child to cross the street, we need to equip them with the digital-life skills to navigate social media responsibly. Governments and private sector players can help by ensuring a robust education campaign around these new tools.

We have succeeded in raising road safety awareness through comprehensive education programs, parental involvement, and government-led campaigns. We must now do the same for online safety. Governments, in cooperation with tech companies, schools, and parents, should develop solutions that achieve three main goals:

1. Empowerment Through Education – Offer digital literacy and safety programs starting in early grades, guiding children and parents about responsible online conduct.
2. Advanced Monitoring and Alert Tools – Provide tools that allow parents to receive alerts about violent or predatory behavior online, as well as dangerous challenges. This ensures parents can intervene quickly, offering the right advice and support.
3. Balanced Privacy and Protection – Respect age-appropriate boundaries and privacy while giving parents enough visibility to protect their children from serious harm. The focus should be on constructive dialogue between parents and children about their online experiences.

The digital world is not going away. As it becomes an increasingly central part of our children’s lives, governments worldwide must rise to the occasion by:

• Investing in advanced child-protection solutions that go beyond basic parental controls.
• Promoting widespread education and training on digital literacy, starting at a young age.
• Encouraging collaboration between government entities, technology providers, and educators to create a comprehensive safety net.

This is our moment to shape a digital future where every child is safe, every parent is informed, and every government takes an active role in empowering families to navigate the complexities of online life. Let us work together to create a new standard of digital safety—one that reflects the realities of the modern world and ensures our children can explore it securely, just as we would teach them to cross a street with care and confidence.

Royi Cohen
CEO
PureSight