Family Digital Safety Workshop
Protecting Your Whole Family Online
Section titled “Protecting Your Whole Family Online”Different family members face different digital threats. Children face predators and inappropriate content. Adults face financial scams. Elderly parents face impersonation and fear-based scams. This workshop covers protection for everyone.
Format: 90-minute interactive workshop When: Third Sunday of each month Time: 4:00 PM IST Cost: Free
Workshop Sections
Section titled “Workshop Sections”Part 1: Protecting Children (Ages 5-12)
Section titled “Part 1: Protecting Children (Ages 5-12)”- Setting up parental controls
- Safe apps and games
- Teaching “stranger danger” online
- Screen time management
- What to do if your child sees something disturbing
Part 2: Teens and Young Adults (Ages 13-25)
Section titled “Part 2: Teens and Young Adults (Ages 13-25)”- Social media privacy
- Online reputation management
- Safe dating apps usage
- Recognizing manipulation and grooming
- Cyberbullying response
Part 3: Adults (Ages 25-60)
Section titled “Part 3: Adults (Ages 25-60)”- Financial scam recognition
- Work-from-home security
- Protecting family finances
- Safe online shopping
- Identity theft prevention
Part 4: Senior Citizens (Ages 60+)
Section titled “Part 4: Senior Citizens (Ages 60+)”- Common scams targeting elderly
- Simplifying security for ease of use
- Recognizing impersonation calls
- Safe use of UPI and digital payments
- When to ask for help
Why Family Security Matters
Section titled “Why Family Security Matters”| Family Member | Common Threat | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Child | Inappropriate content, predators | Psychological harm |
| Teen | Cyberbullying, oversharing | Reputation damage, mental health |
| Adult | Financial scams, phishing | Money loss, identity theft |
| Senior | Impersonation, fear-based scams | Financial devastation, shame |
One compromised family member can affect everyone - through shared accounts, borrowed devices, or impersonation.
What You’ll Learn
Section titled “What You’ll Learn”For Everyone:
Section titled “For Everyone:”- Creating a family security culture
- Establishing trust so family members report problems
- Balancing privacy with protection
- Emergency response as a family
Practical Skills:
Section titled “Practical Skills:”- Setting up parental controls (Google Family Link, Apple Screen Time)
- Configuring privacy settings on social media
- Recognizing common scam patterns
- Creating a family security plan
Upcoming Sessions
Section titled “Upcoming Sessions”| Date | Special Focus |
|---|---|
| Next Session | General family safety |
| Following Month | Child safety deep-dive |
| Month After | Senior safety focus |
Quick Tips by Age Group
Section titled “Quick Tips by Age Group”For Parents of Young Children:
Section titled “For Parents of Young Children:”- Don’t give children adult accounts - Create child accounts with appropriate restrictions
- Know what apps they use - If you can’t explain what it does, investigate
- Keep devices in common areas - Not in bedrooms with doors closed
- Have regular conversations - Make digital safety a normal topic
For Parents of Teens:
Section titled “For Parents of Teens:”- Respect some privacy - But maintain oversight capability
- Discuss consequences - Screenshots are forever, colleges check social media
- Know the signs of cyberbullying - Withdrawal, anxiety, secrecy
- Be the example - Your digital habits influence theirs
For Adult Children of Seniors:
Section titled “For Adult Children of Seniors:”- Simplify their setup - Remove unnecessary apps and complexity
- Establish a verification system - “If anyone asks for money/OTP, call me first”
- Don’t shame - They won’t tell you about scams if they fear judgment
- Do regular checkups - Review their phone monthly with them
Create an environment where family members tell you about suspicious contacts WITHOUT fear of being scolded for being “stupid.”
Shame prevents reporting. Early reporting prevents damage.
Family Security Checklist
Section titled “Family Security Checklist”This Week:
Section titled “This Week:”- Have a family meeting about digital safety
- Establish a code word for verifying urgent requests
- Create an emergency contact card with real bank numbers
- Review privacy settings on all family members’ phones
This Month:
Section titled “This Month:”- Set up parental controls for children
- Help elderly parents remove unnecessary apps
- Establish family password manager or secure password sharing
- Create backup contacts for important accounts
Ongoing:
Section titled “Ongoing:”- Monthly family security check-in
- Share new scam warnings as you learn about them
- Celebrate catches (“Mom almost fell for this but called me first!”)
Resources for Each Age Group
Section titled “Resources for Each Age Group”Children:
Section titled “Children:”- NetSmartz (netsmartz.org) - Kid-friendly safety videos
- Common Sense Media - App and game reviews for parents
Teens:
Section titled “Teens:”- Managing Your Digital Presence
- Think before you post - permanent vs. temporary content
Adults:
Section titled “Adults:”Seniors:
Section titled “Seniors:”- Simplified guides (coming soon)
- Large-print security reference cards
- Video tutorials for common tasks
Frequently Asked Questions
Section titled “Frequently Asked Questions”Q: My parents don’t trust technology. How do I convince them security is important? A: Share real stories of scams targeting elderly Indians. Fear is a motivator, but balance it with reassurance that simple steps provide real protection.
Q: How much privacy should I give my teenager? A: Balance is key. Trust but verify. Know what apps they have and who they communicate with, but don’t read every message unless there’s cause for concern.
Q: Is it okay to install monitoring apps on my child’s phone? A: For young children, yes. For teens, transparent monitoring (they know it’s there) is better than secret surveillance. The goal is safety, not control.
Q: My elderly parent was scammed and feels ashamed. What do I do? A: Don’t add to the shame. Focus on reporting, recovery, and prevention. Remind them that professional scammers trick smart people every day.
Testimonials
Section titled “Testimonials”“After the workshop, we had our first real family conversation about online safety. My mother finally told me about a scam call she’d been afraid to mention.” — Vikram, Bangalore
“I learned my teenager had been receiving unwanted messages for months. The workshop taught me to ask the right questions without interrogating.” — Sunita, Delhi
Can’t Attend Live?
Section titled “Can’t Attend Live?”Register anyway to receive:
- Recording of the session
- Family Digital Safety Guide (PDF)
- Printable security checklists by age group
- Updates on future workshops