Meta held a special event called the “Talking Digital Suraksha for Teens” roundtable in Hyderabad. This event was organized to focus on the safety and wellbeing of young people online. Meta partnered with the organization 1M1B to bring parents and educators together to discuss how to protect teens in the digital world. The goal was to raise awareness about Meta’s safety tools and share ways to create a safer online experience for teens.
Educators and parents from 10-15 schools in Hyderabad attended the event. They learned about various safety initiatives on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Meta explained the different safety tools and features available on their platforms, which can help ensure a balanced and safe online experience. The roundtable also allowed parents and educators to share their experiences of managing their children’s social media use in a thoughtful and mindful way.
Natasha Jog, Director of Public Policy for Instagram in India, highlighted the important role parents and educators play in guiding teens’ social media experiences. She emphasized that Meta is working hard to create a safe environment for users and prevent online harm. The roundtable aimed to educate parents about the safety tools available on Meta’s platforms and gather feedback from the community to improve safety efforts.
This roundtable in Hyderabad is part of Meta’s broader focus on user safety. Similar events have already been held in cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, and Jaipur in 2024. Last year, Meta also organized the ‘Digital Suraksha Summit,’ which focused on providing a safe online experience for young people and women. Meta has also partnered with the Government of Karnataka to educate students and teachers about online safety and digital citizenship over the next two years.
In the past three years, Meta has introduced over 50 safety tools and features to promote online safety. Some of the new features include ‘Night Nudges,’ which encourages users to stop using Instagram late at night, and ‘Quiet Mode,’ which helps teens manage their time on the app. Meta has also launched the ‘Parental Supervision’ feature on Instagram, allowing parents to monitor the accounts their children follow and who follows them. Additionally, Meta’s ‘Family Center’ provides resources for parents and teens to safely navigate the platforms.
