Tech for Beginners Part 59: Talking to Kids About Online Risks: Cyberbullying, Strangers and Gaming

Parental controls can block some websites and limit screen time, but they cannot stop a classmate from posting a cruel comment, a stranger from befriending a child inside an online game, or a fake "friend" from asking a teenager for a private photo. The strongest protection for children online is a parent or trusted adult they can talk to without fear. This is Part 59 of our Tech for Beginners series. Today we will explain the main online risks children face, including grooming by strangers, cyberbullying, sextortion and gaming scams, share simple conversation starters, list warning signs to watch for, and explain where and how to report problems in India.

Many of these threats are versions of the scams we studied in Part 25 and the pressure tactics behind fake calls in Part 26, aimed at younger people. The reporting channels from Part 28 apply here too. In Part 58 we set up parental controls; this part is about the conversations that make those controls work.

A note on changes: the apps children use, the tricks criminals use, and reporting procedures keep changing. Helpline numbers below were current on official sources at the time of writing. This article is general guidance, not legal or psychological advice. If a child is in immediate danger, call 112.

Part A: The main risks, in plain words

1. Grooming by strangers

Grooming is when an adult builds trust with a child online in order to exploit them. The stranger may pretend to be another child, a talent scout or a gaming coach. They give compliments, gifts like game currency, and attention, then slowly ask the child to keep secrets, move to private chat apps, share photos or meet in person.

2. Cyberbullying

Bullying that happens through messages, social media, gaming chats or group chats. Examples include insulting comments, embarrassing photos shared in class groups, fake profiles that mock a child, and deliberately leaving someone out. Because phones are always with children, cyberbullying can follow them home, day and night.

3. Sextortion

Sextortion is blackmail. A criminal, often pretending to be a young person, persuades a teenager to share an intimate photo or video, or secretly records a video call, and then threatens to share it with family and friends unless the teen pays money or sends more images. Boys and girls are both targeted. Criminals may also use AI tools to create fake images, as we discussed in our lesson on deepfakes.

4. Gaming scams and pressure

• Free currency scams: websites or "friends" offering free diamonds, UC, V-Bucks or skins in exchange for account logins or a parent's OTP.
• Account theft: stolen game accounts with paid items.
• Trading scams: fake trades of game items for real money.
• Gambling-style features: loot boxes and betting-style games. India passed a law in 2025 banning real-money online games, according to official announcements, but similar apps may still appear through unofficial links.
• Unsafe chat: voice and text chat with unknown adults inside games.

5. Harmful content and challenges

Violent or adult content, extreme diets, self-harm content and dangerous viral "challenges" can reach children through recommendations and forwards.

Part B: Conversation starters

The aim is regular, relaxed chats, not one big lecture. Try questions like these at dinner or during a car ride:

• "What's your favourite game or app right now? Can you show me how it works?"
• "Who do you usually play or chat with online?"
• "Has anyone you don't know ever messaged you? What did you do?"
• "What would you do if someone in a group chat was being mean to a friend?"
• "If someone online asked you to keep a secret from us, what would you do?"
• "Have you seen anything online that made you feel uncomfortable or scared?"
• "Did you know some people online pretend to be kids? How could you tell?"

Key messages for children

1. You will not be in trouble for telling me. This is the most important promise. Many children hide problems because they fear losing their phone.
2. Real friends do not ask you to keep secrets from your parents.
3. Never share passwords, OTPs, your school name, address or private photos.
4. If someone threatens you, stop replying and tell an adult immediately. It is never your fault.
5. Do not meet anyone from online without a parent.

Part C: Warning signs

Any of these may have ordinary explanations, but watch for patterns:

• Becoming secretive, quickly switching screens or hiding the phone when you enter.
• New contacts, gifts, game currency or money from unknown sources.
• Using the phone late at night much more than before.
• Seeming anxious, upset or angry after using the phone.
• Avoiding school, friends or activities they used to enjoy.
• Sudden drop in marks, sleep or appetite.
• Asking for money urgently or unexplained transactions.
• Deleting apps or accounts suddenly.

If you notice these, stay calm. Start with a gentle conversation rather than grabbing the phone.

Part D: If your child faces a problem

Cyberbullying

1. Listen and reassure your child that it is not their fault.
2. Do not reply to the bully or retaliate.
3. Take screenshots of messages, profiles and dates.
4. Block and report the account on the app.
5. Inform the school if classmates are involved. Many schools have anti-bullying policies.
6. Report serious threats or harassment to the police or cybercrime portal.

Sextortion

1. Do not pay. Paying usually leads to more demands.
2. Stop all contact, but do not delete the account or messages yet; save evidence.
3. Report the account on the platform.
4. Report at cybercrime.gov.in, which has a section for crimes against women and children (with an option to report anonymously), or call 1930.
5. For images of under-18s, the Take It Down service run by the US-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children can help get images removed from participating platforms. For adults, StopNCII.org offers a similar service.
6. Above all, support your child emotionally. Victims often feel intense shame. Make sure they know they are not alone, and seek counselling if needed.

Gaming scams

• Change the game account password and turn on two-factor authentication.
• Contact the game's official support to recover the account.
• If money was taken from a parent's account, call your bank and 1930.

Part E: Where to get help in India

• 112: national emergency number for immediate danger.
• 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in: national cyber crime reporting.
• 1098: child helpline for children in need of care and protection.
• Local police station or the cyber cell of your city.
• School counsellor or trusted teacher.
• Tele-MANAS (14416): the government's free mental health helpline, for emotional support.

Part F: Building digital resilience

We cannot remove every risk, so the goal is to raise children who can recognise danger and respond well. A few practical ideas:

• Role-play scenarios: "A new friend in a game offers you free diamonds if you share your password. What do you say?" Practising answers makes it easier to respond in real life.
• Teach the "stop, block, tell" rule: stop replying, block the person, and tell a trusted adult.
• Agree on a family code word that only family members know, useful if someone calls claiming to be a relative in trouble.
• Keep devices in shared spaces for younger children, such as the living room rather than the bedroom.
• Praise good decisions: when a child tells you about a strange message, thank them. This encourages them to keep telling you.
• Talk about your own mistakes, such as nearly falling for a scam message. It shows that anyone can be targeted.

Part G: Support for parents

Many parents feel they know less about technology than their children. That is fine. You do not need to be an expert in every game or app; you need to be curious, calm and available. Ask your child to teach you, talk to other parents and teachers, and read official advice from cyber safety awareness campaigns. Schools increasingly run cyber safety sessions, so ask your child's school what it offers.

Frequently asked questions

Should I ban my child from online games?

A complete ban can push children to play secretly. Choose age-appropriate games, turn off chat with strangers, set time and spending limits, and play together sometimes.

At what age should I talk about sextortion?

Before your child starts using private messaging or social media, usually around the pre-teen years, using age-appropriate words. Older teens need clear, direct information.

What if the bully is my child?

Stay calm, explain the harm caused, involve the school if needed, and help your child apologise and repair the situation.

My child received a threatening message late at night. What should I do first?

Stay calm and reassure your child. Do not reply to the sender. Take screenshots, block the account, and report it on the app and at cybercrime.gov.in or 1930. If there is any threat of immediate harm, call 112.

What is next

Try this today: ask your child to show you their favourite game or app, and use one conversation starter from this article. In the next part of Tech for Beginners, our series finale, we will bring everything together in a digital safety checklist and series recap.