Last Updated on October 21, 2025 by

Cyber security : This is the era of digital world could a better place, an ideal world without internet, gadgets and social media. This article shows students how to engage in cyber security actively by learning both protection of personal data and correct technology usage. The knowledge of digital threats and privacy control features alongside appropriate internet conduct plays a role in decreasing cyber threats. Many of children require some training for digital wellness & avoidance to contents including different way to limit screen time. Safe practices equip people with the advantages of technology and lower their concerns of cyber security.

All the application systems that are connected to the web, which allows the users to share contents with others are regarded as the social media platforms.

• Dating apps/Sites
• Micro blogs
• Blogs (Tumblr)
• Social networking
• Media sharing sites
• Wikipedia
• Bookmarking sites

Through social media and internet access teenagers maintain friendship bonds with their teenage peers as their primary use.

• Establish new connections
• The short amount brings enjoyment while wasting hours.
• Watch this pornographic video.
• In order to meet people who share similar interests individuals should both explore existing content and create or distribute valuable content.

Internet Use During Adolescence: What Should Be the Priority?

The use of internet and social media platforms reaches extremely high numbers among teenage users. Despite the numerous advantages, online presence and interactions may not always be beneficial; these include serious worries about their safety and wellbeing in addition to the negative effects of excessive use; if teenagers use the internet and media poorly, they may have to deal with long-lasting effects. During the pandemic people spent even more time online.

Benefits of using internet

• Relationship developing and improvement
• Honing the social skill and empathically management
• It generates many types of educational and infotainment with engagement opportunity.
• It provides support and assistance to any kind of facil
• Also provide information and support regarding various identities (cultural, sexual, and ethnic)
• We can acquire knowledge and information from internet
• Formal and informal education may be received from different sources.
• Improvement of skills with foster creativity through internet
• Lessen biases
• Unwind and have fun through internet

Different types of Risks arising the Misuse and Overuse :

• Any kind of Cyber-bullying & other online transgressions
• Exhaustion of Different types of Social media
• Sharing of false information
• Advertisement in deceptive mode and other Fake news received throuh internet
• May have financial frauds
• Full addiction or dependency with internet
• May be impaired mental health issues
• Forced purchasing
• More time utilization in excessive gaming
• Maximum exposure to unwanted content in internet
• Easy access and distribution of unnecessary and in-appropriate contents frequently
• Overall declination in academic achievement of user
• Loss of friends or relationships Cyber-bullying and other infractions on the internet

Many Negative effects on mental health

• Impulsive purchases
• excessive gaming;
• exposure to unwanted content;
• Easy & early access to & distribution of inappropriate content freqently
• Overall declination in academic performance by user
• Sure loss of friends or relationships among themselves
• May have financial frauds
• Social media fatigue
• Misinformation,
• Fake news,
• Deceptive advertisements;

Protective qualities on using the internet :

1. Behavior, which demands help and contacts with service providers
2. Good hobbies and interests in the real life
3. Cyber or Social Media Literacy
4. Close relationship with family & friends in surroundings
5. Always keeping healthy relationships with other people
6. Good self-esteem

Risk factors related to use of internet :

• A lack of support from their parents and an inability to bond as a family happens too often
• Unrealistic or invisible social friends;
• Could see less of friends and relatives all the time
• Negative peer pressure
• Low self-esteem
• Lowering in academic performance by user
• Mental health issues may have from earlier time
• Enhanced access to & exposure to many unrestricted & un-trusted internet use
• Lacking of knowledge about how to use media effectively and efficiently
• Ignoring the off-line interests and concerns

Risk factors

Individual considerations

• Low risk perception;
• Developmental alterations;
• Low self-esteem
• Not understanding the consequences of risky behavior and preventive behavior
• Being out of school
• Having experienced physical or sexual abuse as a youngster
• Psychological intervention, self emotions with other societal problems

Social factors

• Gun ownership;
• gang affiliation;
• Legitimize the violence with different Socio-cultural elements
• forced relocation,
• dangerous migration,
• mobility for environmental and socioeconomic causes;
• media exposure (modeling)

Factors related to family

• Lacking of direct supervision & required support from family members
• Guidance in abnormal behavior
• Misuse of Substance in the family
• Un-employment

Teenagers could either be the victims or the offenders of:

• Cyber-bullying
• cyber-stalking,
• trolls,
• doxing,
• hacking,
• phishing;
• establishing and disseminating rumors;
• fabricating a persona for a variety of reasons;
• grooming;
• unwanted attention;
• sexting that could expose them;
• blackmailing;
• financial frauds

Issues regarding its over use:

• Uncontrolled media consumption, continuous gaming & chattering i.e. compulsion
• Continuing to use even when not intending to i.e. loss of control in overuse
• Fear of losing or not having a cell phone or sleeping with one in bed makes you feel uneasy if you aren’t permitted to use media.
• May have FOMO (fear of missing out) when not online also

Some related terms which are frequently being used:

Cyber-bullying or cyber-harassment is bullying/harassment through any kind of digital means.

Cyber-stalking is the following of someone, a group or an organization over the Internet or other technological means while being harassed.

The word ”troll” is used in reference to a person who intentionally tries to create discord or animosity or arguments within an online social group.

The practice of doxing, which is itself a form of cyber-bullying, is when individuals use private or sensitive data, statements or documents to harass, expose, financially injure, or otherwise exploit the targeted individual.

Everyone seems to have an idea of what hacking is, where hacking is more than just hacking a computer, cellphone, tablet or even a whole network.

Phishing is a social engineering attack that the perpetrators use to obtain the credit card information and access credentials of users. An attacker impersonating a trusted organization causes the victim to open an email, instant message or text message.

Effects of Abnormal Use:

• Effect on relationships:
• Life in reality becomes difficult to you since the real world does not give you interest or satisfaction

Psychological-Social effect:

• distant,
• reserved;
• mood swings;
• Lacking of self-confidence and worth.
• decline in grades Physical health effects

Reduced exercise;

• excessive weight loss or gain;
• headaches,
• backaches,
• poor posture,
• or eye strain;
• insomnia or restless nights

To regulate their use of internet

• talk about their normal day,
• We must suggest them to keep a time log of their activities & also asking them to re-think about.
• In which type, the information they are accessing online may affect their self-esteem?
• What is the value addition?
• Are users contented with what they have in life or are there goals that they want to achieve?

To create safety on the internet

• Never add social network friends whom you do not know
• Not to allow to meet someone if earlier you met online; • Personal information viz. name, address, school name, etc. on public online forums not to be posted;
• Identity protection and Privacy settings to be ensured.
• Never declassify your password to anyone, but your parents or legal guardian.
• Keep changing because using usual characters is not always possible, change your password and prefer using strange
• Any data shared on social networking sites creates lasting digital records hence users should be wary about uploading sensitive content.

Discourage them against responding to the individual or individuals who are bullying him/her online:

• Block and report the individual or people involved;
• Take screenshots and photos and document them;
• The method involves talking about it while implementing time controls and safeguarding your digital safety
• Talk about, Encourage, and Make a Suggestion Provide some advice.
• Be mindful;
• Rights, rules, regulations and obligations may be taught to the adolescent.
• High privacy settings on different social media may be done and to keep their profiles hidden always.

What Can You Do in Action?

• Awareness in the school, colleges, community etc.
• Form alliances with departments that are related, like Police and Information
• Partner with the guardians, caregivers, teachers and family.
• Enhance your self-capacity by participating in pertinent training.
• Make the proper referrals and urge them to speak with: Police; cybercrime unit; mental health specialists and counselors; educators and school administrators

Urge them to collaborate with the guardians, family, teachers, and caretakers in order to:

• Establish clear limits;
• discuss;
• communicate;
• control use;
• Supportive foster environment
• Relationships may be cultivated basing on true & trust.
• stay safe online.

Putting safety first

• Technical assistance should be given so that they can:
• Privacy settings may be verified & application of different filters as per need.
• Report and receive assistance for cyber-crimes;
• Help the teen beep or report posts or people.
• We can change our passwords frequently in regular intervals.

Key Message :

• Social Media: A mobile or web platform which lets users connect while sharing generated content with others and entities constitutes Social Media.
• There is a plethora of social media sites – including blogs and microblogs Tumblr or Twitter, dating app sites Tinder, media sharing sites like YouTube, Wikipedia, etc. These networks include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
• Internet use is a two-edged sword with many risks and many advantages. Consequently, the use of internet among teenagers should be addressed.

A small video on Safe use of Internet & Social Media from Youtube is mentioned below: https://www.youtube.com/embed/oCQNhQmqOu0?si=Z4Of8h-u4pwaw3rE

FAQs:

Q1. What fundamental reasons make cyber security vital to develop among young adolescents?

Ans. Online threats, including cyberbullying, data theft, phishing and predators, affect most young users of the internet. With cyber security measures adolescents obtain protection against unauthorized access and attacks that protect their digital information and private identity.

Q2. What are the most common dangers to void by an average teen user who uses internet?

Ans. As below:

• Cyberbullying
• Phishing scams
• Inappropriate content
• Identity theft
• Accounts in Social media accounts may be hacked

Q3. What methods do adolescents need to use for secure Internet practices?

Ans. As below:

• Use strong, unique passwords
• Unknown links should not be clicked
• Keeping the software and apps updated always
• Must avoid to share nay personal details online
• A public device user should always perform a log out when they finish their session.

Q4. Parents should have what responsibilities when it comes to securing their children in cyber space?

Ans. Parents need to instruct their teenagers about:

• Online risks to be shared and educated among adolescents
• Regula & day to day Monitoring the screen time and content view by adolescents
• Using parental control tools
• Conversations must be opened with the adolescents regarding their about online experiences

Q5. Schools need to implement strategies which will help students become cyber security aware.

Ans. Schools can:

• Education in digital safety concepts are to become a part of the study program.
• Hosting the cyber awareness workshops
• Teaching of digital behavior in responsive behavior
• Cyber incidents to be reported and it should be encouraged

Q6. Describe some rusted tools to online security?

Ans. As below:

• Antivirus software
• Password managers
• Parental control apps
• Two-factor authentication
• VPNs-Virtual Private Networks

Q7. How teens to discover good methods to recognize dangerous or fake websites.

Ans. As mentioned below:

• Suspicious URLs
• Grammar mistakes
• No HTTPS encryption
• A pop up with ads and a request to leave personal information

Q8. Teens who fall victim to cybercrime need to follow which steps?

Ans. They should :

• The teen is supposed to report to a responsible person as well as the teacher at once.
• There is a necessity to inform the platform about this problem.
• This includes, for example, screenshots and messages.
• Teenagers are forced to report to cybercrime law enforcers.

Q9. Cyber security should be seen as something we must learn and use throughout life.

Ans. The expansion of digital technology requires everyone to learn how to protect their online presence because this knowledge enables secure communication and educational opportunities and professional development in the upcoming future.

Guideline of WHO for Adolescents & its link as mentioned below: https://www.who.int/teams/maternal-newborn-child-adolescent-health-and-ageing/adolescent-and-young-adult-health/resource-bank-for-adolescent-health/who-guidelines

Thanks and Regards

About the Author – “Mr. Bibhu Ranjan Mund”, Master in Public Health (MPH) from IIHMR University, Jaipur (Rajasthan) has experience of 18 years in Public Health activities. Through “Lovely Health Tips-2025”, we share the evidence & experienced based health & wellness guides with solutions for every day well-being. More from Author

Disclaimer

This information is suggestive only and not a replacement for medical advice. For more detail, please visit to my website as mentioned below:

Lovely Health Tips — 2025