The Institute for Technology and Society (ITS) is pleased to publish a new guide titled “Protecting Children in the Digital World – For Parents and Schools”. This practical resource was developed to support parents, teachers, and schools in better understanding the challenges children face online and in responding to them through informed, balanced, and supportive approaches.
Children today grow up in an environment where the line between the offline and online world is increasingly blurred. Digital technologies offer many opportunities, including access to information, communication, and learning, but they also expose children to serious risks such as loss of privacy, cyberbullying, harmful interactions, and emotional distress. The guide emphasizes that children need support in navigating these risks and that effective protection requires closer cooperation between families and schools.
The publication highlights several key concerns linked to excessive or uncontrolled technology use, including social isolation, sleep disruption, fragmented attention, and digital dependency. It also addresses the psychological side of children’s online experiences, noting that many children do not report harmful incidents because they fear blame, punishment, or losing access to technology. For this reason, the guide stresses that trust, open communication, and calm adult responses are essential for child safety and well-being.
In addition, the guide offers practical recommendations for both parents and schools. For parents, it encourages setting clear screen limits, avoiding nighttime device use, discussing online experiences regularly, and using parental controls when needed. For schools, it recommends clear digital device policies, online safety education, staff training, and reliable incident reporting mechanisms. The guide also underlines that child protection in the digital sphere is not only a family or school issue, but a shared community responsibility.
This material was developed as part of the #HumanRightivism project, implemented by the Community Development Fund (CDF) with the support of the Embassy of Sweden in Kosovo and SIDA.