Karnataka Minister for Women and Child Development, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, has issued a clear directive to district-level officers: actively visit schools and colleges to educate students about the potential dangers of social media. The minister emphasized the critical need for creating widespread awareness about the negative impacts that unchecked social media use can have on young minds.
Workshop on Protecting Children Online
The minister made these remarks while inaugurating a significant district-level officers' workshop. The event, focused on the theme of 'Children's Online Safety', was organized on 08 January 2026. The workshop was a collaborative effort between the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) and the non-governmental organization Child Fund India.
This initiative underscores the government's growing concern regarding the digital well-being of children and adolescents. The workshop aimed to equip officers with the necessary knowledge and strategies to tackle the complex challenges posed by the online world.
A Call for Proactive Ground-Level Action
Moving beyond theoretical discussions, Hebbalkar's instruction was action-oriented. She stressed that officers should not confine their work to seminar halls but must take the message directly to the students. Educational institutions are the primary battlegrounds for shaping young perspectives, and direct engagement is seen as the most effective method for imparting crucial digital literacy lessons.
The minister highlighted several key areas of concern that such outreach programs should address:
- The risk of cyberbullying and online harassment.
- The dangers of sharing personal information with strangers.
- The impact of excessive screen time on mental and physical health.
- The proliferation of inappropriate and harmful content.
Building a Safer Digital Future for Karnataka's Youth
The workshop and the subsequent directive mark a proactive step by the Karnataka government to institutionalize child online protection measures. By mobilizing the administrative machinery, the state aims to create a robust safety net. The goal is to empower children to navigate the digital landscape responsibly while ensuring that mechanisms are in place to protect them from harm.
This initiative aligns with broader national and global efforts to safeguard children in the digital age. The collaboration with Child Fund India brings valuable expertise from the development sector, combining governmental authority with grassroots experience. The success of this program will depend on the consistent and sincere implementation of the minister's orders by officers across all districts of Karnataka.
