At Caritas Moldova, we believe that digital protection is part of our mission to ensure the well-being of children, an organized way to build trust, skills, and healthy relationships between children, parents, and the community.
Why online safety matters
Uncontrolled exposure to the internet can lead to:
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inappropriate content (images or messages unsuitable for their age);
- cyberbullying and exclusion;
- loss of personal data or unauthorized access to accounts;
- risk of exploitation or grooming;
- excessive screen time, impacting sleep and development.
What can parents do?
Here is a practical, easy-to-implement set of measures that we promote in our activities and materials:
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Keep devices in common areas Phones and tablets used in the living room or kitchen allow for natural supervision without invading your child's privacy. Observe behaviors and intervene when necessary.
- Set up parental controls and filters Activate filters available on devices and in apps to block inappropriate content and limit usage time. Many platforms offer child profiles and age settings.
- Check apps before installing them Read reviews, check the recommended age and permissions required (access to camera, microphone, location). Avoid apps that request unnecessary data.
- Talk about online behavior and privacy Talk regularly about online respect: what it means to be polite, how to recognize dangerous situations, and what information not to share (address, phone number, school).
- Be a digital role model Children imitate adult behavior. Show responsibility in your posts, respect for others, and healthy limits in your use of technology.
- Protect important accounts Use strong passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA), and avoid reusing passwords.
- Encourage reporting and saving evidence If a problem arises (abusive messages, pressure to meet), save conversations, block users, and report the incident to the platform or relevant authorities.