Dr. Bhavna Chibber, Principal, Laburnum Public School, Gurgaon, Haryana
The image of a father as a protector has remained remarkably consistent across generations. Whether teaching a child to avoid dangerous streets, stay alert in unfamiliar places, or make sensible decisions outside the home, fathers have traditionally served as guides through an unpredictable world. What has changed is the location of that world. For today’s children, a significant portion of daily life unfolds through a screen.
Today many parents grew up in an era when risks were visible and local. A child’s circle of interaction was largely limited to school, neighbourhoods, and family networks. Modern childhood operates differently. A young person can communicate with unknown individuals, consume vast amounts of content, and share personal information with a global audience before dinner. The scale and speed of these interactions have created challenges that previous generations never had to confront.
Digital threats are no longer exceptional events. Fraudulent schemes, manipulative strangers, privacy breaches, harmful content, and online harassment exist alongside educational opportunities and entertainment. Although children often appear comfortable with technology, familiarity with devices should not be mistaken for maturity in decision-making. Knowing how to use an app is very different from understanding its risks.
Because of this, effective parenting in the digital age requires a shift in approach. Protection is less about control and more about engagement. Instead of treating technology as a separate world children manage alone, fathers can become active participants in understanding how that world functions. Exploring new platforms together, discussing online experiences, and showing genuine interest in digital activities can reveal far more than restrictive rules ever will.
Open communication is particularly important when problems arise. Children who expect anger, punishment, or immediate loss of privileges are often reluctant to report uncomfortable online encounters. By contrast, when parents respond with patience and curiosity, children are more likely to seek help early. A calm conversation after a troubling experience can prevent a small issue from becoming a serious one.
Staying informed also matters. The online environment changes constantly, with new scams, deceptive applications, and security threats appearing every week. Parents do not need technical expertise, but they do need reliable sources of information. India’s CyberDost initiative, operated by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, provides practical updates on digital fraud, online safety concerns, and emerging cyber threats. When incidents require formal action, the national cybercrime reporting portal and helpline 1930 offer mechanisms for reporting and assistance.
The expectation that fathers must understand every platform, trend, or algorithm is unrealistic. What children need is something far more valuable: a parent who pays attention. A father who asks questions without judgment, listens before reacting, and takes the time to learn alongside his child creates a foundation of trust that technology cannot replace.
Perhaps the promise of protection has not changed at all. The methods have evolved, but the responsibility remains the same. In earlier generations, keeping children safe meant knowing the roads they walked. Today, it means understanding the digital pathways they travel every day.
This Father’s Day, the most meaningful gesture may not involve buying the latest device or granting more screen time. It may be as simple as sitting together, exploring the online world side by side, and showing genuine interest in the experiences that shape a child’s modern life.