In a world where childhood is increasingly lived online, parents face the unprecedented challenge of guiding their sons through the digital wilderness. For Sunayana Roy, a marketing professional and mother of two boys in Bengaluru, this task involves constant vigilance, open conversations, and a fundamental rethinking of traditional parenting blueprints. Her sons, belonging to Generation Z and the younger Generation Alpha, are among the first cohorts to grow up entirely with the internet as a central part of their reality.
The Personal is Pedagogical: Starting with Honesty
Roy's parenting philosophy took a pivotal turn during a personal health journey. During a check-up in December 2025, her gynaecologist advised her to communicate the impacts of perimenopause to her family. Roy realized she was already doing this. She had initiated a family meeting earlier in the year, determined not to navigate the challenges of ageing—fatigue, mood swings, hot flashes—alone. She wanted her boys to understand her struggles.
This act of vulnerability had a dual benefit. While educating her sons about the medical aspects of perimenopause, Roy found herself shedding the embarrassment and anxiety associated with it. "If I could tell my boys about hot flashes, I could stop being embarrassed about having them in the first place," she reflects. This experience cemented a core belief: parenting is a two-way street where she learns as much as she teaches.
Redrawing the Blueprint: From Control to Compassion
Roy's approach evolved significantly between her two sons. With her firstborn, now an adult, she was "grimly determined" to cultivate a well-rounded man through exposure to books, art, sports, and diverse skills. In hindsight, she realizes that while those experiences were valuable, his fundamental need was simpler: to be seen and accepted for who he is, with faith in his character.
By the time his younger brother was born eight years later, Roy had embraced a more observant and supportive role. This shift mirrors a larger transformation happening in homes across India, where the very model of boyhood is being radically reconsidered. Today's boys are engaging with concepts of gender, equality, and social justice much earlier and more explicitly than previous generations.
The Digital Battlefield: Algorithms vs. Ethics
The most formidable frontier in modern parenting, however, is the online world. Roy points out that her sons' generation is the first to be "of the internet," which brings both immense opportunity and severe peril. While they can access affirming communities and information, they are also exposed to toxic influencers, hyper-violent content, and corrosive online subcultures.
She specifically highlights the notorious Indian "manosphere," a segment of the internet globally recognized for promoting regressive, violent, and controlling attitudes towards women. Countering this has necessitated countless conversations about respect, kindness, and healthy relationships in every context, from the classroom to public transport.
"Trying to bring up digitally informed boys feels like an uphill battle when multiple algorithms work against me every single day," Roy admits. She notes a chilling reality: her 11-year-old receives the most harmful content suggestions on YouTube, despite active parental supervision. Her strategy has shifted from futile attempts at total control to managing screen time and, most crucially, keeping the lines of communication wide open about what he consumes online.
The Path Forward: Co-Navigators, Not Commanders
Roy emphasizes that raising boys today is not about dimming their spirit but constructively channelling their energy. It involves replacing a rigid, brittle model of masculinity with one that is flexible, compassionate, and strong in diverse ways. For caregivers, this means becoming co-navigators.
This journey also demands introspection from parents. Roy shares that to teach her sons to view women as equals, she first had to reframe her own perception of her contribution to the household, seeing herself as an equal partner. The hopeful sign, she observes, is in this generation's heightened awareness of social justice, consent, and equality.
The ultimate goal is clear: to guide young boys toward a future where they can be not just successful men, but fundamentally good ones. The tools are steady hands, open minds, and an unwavering commitment to dialogue, both offline and on.
