Actor and wellness advocate Shilpa Shetty marked Safer Internet Day with a heartfelt message urging parents to rethink how children engage with the digital world. Speaking on Instagram as a mother first, she highlighted both the opportunities and risks that come with growing up online.
Balance, not bans
Acknowledging that the internet is a powerful space for learning, creativity and exploration, Shilpa noted that it can also expose children to content they may not be emotionally equipped to handle. Instead of advocating strict bans or fear-based restrictions, she emphasised mindful access.
According to her, parenting in a tech-driven era is about striking a balance — ensuring children benefit from digital tools while being protected from potential harm. Limiting screen time alone, she suggested, is not enough. What matters more is understanding what children are consuming and how it influences their thinking.
Conversations over control
Shilpa encouraged parents to stay involved by knowing what their children watch and scroll through. She stressed the importance of open conversations at home, saying dialogue builds awareness, while silence may leave children confused or misinformed.
She also underlined the need to teach youngsters that not everything online is real, kind or safe. While parental controls can support safer usage, trust and supervision — especially during teenage years — should be viewed as acts of care rather than control.
Concluding her message, Shilpa admitted that no parent has all the answers. However, she insisted that the conversation about responsible internet use must begin now. By working together instead of parenting in isolation, families can raise children who are digitally aware rather than digitally dependent.