Parenting is not so difficult in the age of social media, said the experts at ReDi Digital Dialogue organised on the occasion of Social Media Day in the city on Sunday. They said that while the digital age is a reality and cannot be ignored, efforts should be made to protect children from its pitfalls like addiction and stalking as well as to ensure all round development of the child.

Educationist and principal of Jamnabai Narsee School at GIFT City, Anupama Singh emphasised on necessity to make children aware of safe practices that ensure their safety on social media platforms, said, "Parenting in the twenty first century is a daunting task but not insurmountable. We have to teach kids how to navigate through this cyber world," she said. The dialogue was organised jointly by Responsibly Digital (ReDi) and UNICEF.

Prachi Mihir Shah, founder of The Milestone Preschool brought to the notice of the audience that with the advent of digital age, children have been reduced to mere spectators rather than participants. "The child sees a ball on the screen but in reality if we give a ball or any other toy, it will pick up, play with it, it will enable the development of neurons of the child. There is much more to do with a physical toy. In digital age children only react, while with physical toys, children respond and remain active," said Shah.

Vijay Shankar Kanthan, C4D officer, UNICEF India opined that one should not deprive the child of social media, but handhold it to ensure that it reaps the benefit and does not fall victim to any of its hazards. "We can't deprive a child of social media. Yes, but as parents, we have to empower them to navigate in the world of social media. We believe in utilising social media for the voices of children," he said.

Experts also asked parents to engage children rather than merely keeping them away from digital world. "Parents need to align with the world of your children in order to provide the right perspective," said Akshay Sethia, founder director of Dezine Brainz Digital. He, however, cautioned parents to have a vigil over digital exposure of their children, because it is observed that children make fake profile on Snapchat and other apps.