Professor Kanižaj discusses children’s safety in the virtual world

Professor Igor Kanižaj, PhD, from the University Department of Communication Studies at the Catholic University of Croatia participated in a conference dedicated to children and growing up, held in Velika Gorica. As Head of the Catholic University of Croatia’s Centre for Media Literacy, he took part in the closing panel, “And Where Else Do Children Grow Up? Online.”, dedicated to children’s safety in the digital environment.

Speaking about the role of parents in the use of digital technologies, Professor Kanižaj emphasised the importance of their active involvement and of building a relationship of trust with their children.

“The virtual world is not, in itself, a safe environment for anyone, including children,” Kanižaj warned, stressing that children should be given clear rules on how to use a mobile phone when they receive one.

He particularly emphasised that safety and trust are learned and built over time, and that such a relationship requires parents to invest both time and effort.

“Safety is learned, and trust is learned. This requires a great deal of parents’ time, and by the end of the day they are exhausted. But they need to find the courage to start working on it,” he said.