Digital safety experts address social media risks and online child exploitation

Discussions regarding digital safety and social media usage highlight the diverse risks faced by different age groups. Anthropologist Dan Podjed suggests that instead of outright bans, which can increase the allure of platforms, there should be meaningful limitations on social media use, similar to restrictions on phone use in schools. He notes that excessive use among Generation Z is linked to anxiety and depression, while also criticizing the toxic discourse used by adults on platforms like Facebook.

In a separate focus on online safety, experts addressed the issue of sexual exploitation of minors. At a recent conference, officials emphasized that adults are always responsible for the abuse of children online. Dejan Grandič of the General Police Directorate described the process of grooming, where perpetrators manipulate their maturity to build trust with children. The discussion also covered the intersection of sextortion, the distribution of intimate recordings, and the use of artificial intelligence in child exploitation, stressing the need for an environment where children are equipped for safe behavior and adults can recognize and respond to risks.