ChildSafeNet

24/08/2026

Is the algorithm working for us, or are we working for the algorithm?

Ever feel like social media knows us a little too well?

It cannot read our minds, but it can learn from our behaviour. Every click, like, search, share and even the time we pause on a post can signal what captures our attention.

Algorithms use these signals to decide what to show us next.

This can be useful. Digital spaces can help children and young people learn, explore interests, express themselves and find supportive communities.

But recommendation systems are often designed to maximise engagement. Endless feeds, autoplay and constant notifications can make it difficult for us to switch off.

They can also repeatedly recommend misleading, inappropriate, stressful or harmful content.

Digital wellbeing is not just about screen time. It is also about understanding how technology shapes what we see, how we feel and how we behave.

Some simple habits can help:

1. Choose what supports us:

Follow content that informs, inspires or helps us. Mute or unfollow what leaves us anxious, angry or drained

2. Question our feed:

Ask, Why are we being shown this?

3. Control notifications:

Turn off unnecessary alerts and choose when we check our phones

4. Protect our sleep:

Avoid screens at bedtime where possible

5. Shape our recommendations:

Use “not interested”, mute, block and reset options

6. Take real breaks:

Make time to disconnect and engage with the offline world

But responsibility cannot rest solely with children and parents.

Technology companies must build Safety by Design into their platforms through age-appropriate safeguards, safer recommendation systems, strong privacy protections and greater transparency about how algorithms influence young users.

Technology should serve children and young people, not compete endlessly for their attention.

23/08/2026

टिकटकले बालबालिकाको गोपनीयता उल्लंघन गरेको आरोपमा लगाइएको कानुनी मुद्दा सुल्झाउन अमेरिकी सरकारलाई ४० करोड अमेरिकी डलर (६१ अर्ब रुपैयाँ बढी) तिर्न सहमति जनाएको छ । बालबालिकाको अनलाइन सुरक्षा र गोपनीयताका विषयमा भएको यो अहिलेसम्मकै ठुलो सम्झौतामध्ये एक हो ।

यो सम्झौता सन् २०२४ मा तत्कालीन जो बाइडेनको कार्यकालमा अमेरिकी न्याय मन्त्रालयले दर्ता गरेको मुद्दाको परिणाम हो । उक्त मुद्दामा टिकटक र यसको मातृ कम्पनी बाइटड्यान्सले १३ वर्षभन्दा कम उमेरका लाखौँ प्रयोगकर्ताहरूको ठुलो मात्रामा डेटा संकलन गरेको आरोप लगाइएको थियो ।

टिकटकको यस्तो कार्य सन् २००० मा जारी गरिएको संघीय कानुन ‘चिल्ड्रेन अनलाइन प्राइभेसी प्रोटेक्सन एक्ट’ को विरुद्धमा रहेको दाबी गरिएको थियो । अमेरिकी न्याय मन्त्रालयका सह-महान्यायाधिवक्ता ब्रेट सुमेटले यो मुद्दा सुरु हुँदाको तुलनामा अहिले बालबालिका र अभिभावकहरू बढी सुरक्षित भएको बताएका छन् ।

पछिल्लो सम्झौताअनुसार टिकटक र बाइटड्यान्सले अमेरिकी न्याय मन्त्रालयलाई तत्काल ३० करोड डलर भुक्तानी गर्नेछन् भने बाँकी १० करोड डलर केही समयपछि बुझाउनेछन् ।

बाइटड्यान्स हाल ५५० अर्ब डलर बराबरको सम्पत्ति भएको निजी कम्पनी हो । यसअघि टिकटककै पूर्ववर्ती कम्पनी म्युजिकल्लीले पनि यस्तै उल्लंघनका कारण ५७ लाख डलर जरिवाना तिर्नुपरेको थियो ।

बालबालिकाको गोपनीयता उल्लंघन गरेको भन्दै जरिवाना तिर्नेमा टिकटक मात्र एक्लो कम्पनी होइन । यसअघि सन् २०१९ मा गुगलको युट्युबले १७ करोड डलर र सन् २०२२ मा एपिक गेम्सले २७ करोड ५० लाख डलर जरिवाना तिरिसकेका छन् ।

हाल फेसबुक र इन्स्टाग्रामको मातृ कम्पनी मेटाले पनि २९ अमेरिकी राज्यहरूबाट यस्तै प्रकृतिको मुद्दा खेपिरहेको छ, जसमा मेटालाई सयौँ अर्ब डलरसम्मको जरिवाना हुन सक्ने सम्भावना छ ।

टिकटकले प्रयोगकर्ताको उमेर प्रभावकारी रूपमा जाँच नगरेको र अभिभावकको अनुमति बिना नै बालबालिकाहरूलाई एप प्रयोग गर्न दिएको आरोप लागेको थियो ।

यद्यपि, न्याय मन्त्रालयले मुद्दा दर्ता भएयता टिकटकले आफ्नो स्वामित्व संरचना र गोपनीयता अभ्यासमा महत्त्वपूर्ण परिवर्तन गरेको दाबी गरेको छ ।

समाचारः Techpana

23/08/2026

CZOP-National Campaign को सदस्य चाइल्डसेफनेट ऐक्यवद्दता प्रकट गर्दै गम्भीर ध्यानाकर्षण गराउन चाहँदछौँ ।

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति : बालिका तथा किशोरीमाथि बढ्दो हिंसाप्रति गम्भीर ध्यानाकर्षण

23/08/2026

Last week, ChildSafeNet conducted a learning session on child online protection at the Child Rights Learning Conference 2026, hosted by Children as Zones of Peace (CZOP)-National Campaign in Kathmandu.

Anil Raghuvanshi, Founder of ChildSafeNet, presented the current landscape of online risks and research showing that children’s digital access is expanding faster than the systems designed to protect them.

ChildSafeNet’s research found that 85% of parents had never discussed online child sexual abuse and exploitation with their children, while 73% did not use parental-control tools.

Another study across all seven provinces found that 23.6% of teenagers and young people in intimate relationships had experienced technology-facilitated intimate partner violence, an emerging form of Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence ( ).

The session highlighted online grooming and sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, scams, misinformation, privacy violations and AI-related harms.

Nepal’s response remains fragmented and largely reactive, with gaps in coordination, legislation, education, capacity and investment. Technology companies must strengthen Safety by Design, age-appropriate safeguards and accountability.

Nepal also has good practices to build on, including Nepal-specific research, school digital-safety education, capacity building and the Safer Internet Day campaign, coordinated by ChildSafeNet since 2019 with over 50 organisations.

Nepal now needs a national strategic roadmap for child online protection, stronger coordination and investment, early digital-safety education, better reporting and survivor support, continued research, technology-company accountability, and meaningful participation of children and young people.

Keeping children safe online requires collective responsibility and a child protection system fit for the digital age.

22/08/2026

Abusive content that once required time, technical skills and resources can now be created in seconds. The harm can last far longer.

AI can make sexual deepfakes, manipulate images, impersonate people and generate convincing abusive content, which can then spread rapidly across digital platforms.

Women and girls are disproportionately targeted.

Deepfakes are AI-manipulated images, audio or videos that make people appear to say or do things they never did. The technology is not new, but its use to target women and girls is growing at an alarming pace.

Deepfake sexual abuse videos account for 98% of all deepfake videos online, and 99% of those targeted are female. (Source: 2023
STATE OF DEEPFAKES, Security Hero)

But this is not simply about fake images on a screen. Digital violence is real violence.

The harm can last far longer than it takes to create or share the content. Survivors may experience psychological distress, humiliation, sexual extortion, blackmail, harassment, reputational damage and threats to their physical safety.

Abuse can disrupt education and employment, restrict participation in public life and silence women and girls, including journalists, activists and other public voices.

Technology should not make abuse easier than protection.

At ChildSafeNet, we believe the responsibility cannot be placed on women and girls to protect themselves.

Governments, technology companies, law-enforcement agencies and civil society must act together.

We need:

- Safety by Design to prevent abuse before it happens

- Strong safeguards against sexual deepfakes and non-consensual intimate content

- Fast, accessible and survivor-centred reporting and removal mechanisms

- Greater transparency and accountability from technology companies

- Effective laws, investigation and meaningful pathways to justice

- Support that protects survivors’ rights, privacy, safety and dignity

- Digital literacy to help women and girls recognise risks, seek support and exercise their rights

As AI evolves, our safeguards must evolve with it.

Illustration: AI-generated by ChildSafeNet

21/08/2026

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for users aged 13–17, with more safeguards.

* New mode activates for users estimated under 18 or self-identifying as 13 to 17

* Parents can set Quiet Hours, manage settings and get alerts on sensitive-topic discussions

* OpenAI says it defaults to safer setting ​when unsure of user age

If ChatGPT estimates that a user is under 18, or the user states that they are 13–17, they are automatically placed in the teen experience.

The new safeguards restrict responses involving sensitive and potentially harmful areas, including self-harm, violence and eating disorders. They also place stronger boundaries around sexual and romantic interactions.

The experience also includes features intended to make AI more supportive of learning, with study guides, quizzes, reminders and interactive tools designed to encourage understanding rather than simply provide answers.

Parents can link their accounts with their teenagers’ accounts, manage certain settings and establish Quiet Hours. In limited situations involving serious safety concerns, parents may receive alerts, while they cannot access their teenager’s chat transcripts.

When children use AI, safety should not be an optional setting. It should be built in from the start.

Share your thoughts.

Image: AI-generated by ChildSafeNet

21/08/2026

सामाजिक सञ्जाल फेसबुकमार्फत नाबालिकाको चरित्र हत्या गरेको आरोपमा एक युवक पक्राउ परेका छन् । नेपाल प्रहरीको साइबर ब्युरोका अनुसार पक्राउ पर्नेमा नुवाकोटको शिवपुरी गाउँपालिका-७ का १९ वर्षीय सुदीप कटुवाल रहेका छन् । उनलाई भदौ ३ गते साइबर ब्युरोबाट खटिएको टोलीले पक्राउ गरेको हो ।

प्रहरीका अनुसार कटुवालले फेसबुकमार्फत नाबालिकासँग साथी बनेपछि उनलाई प्रलोभनमा पारेर अश्लील सामग्री पोस्ट गरेको पाइएको छ । उक्त सामग्रीका आधारमा नाबालिकाको चरित्र हत्या गर्नुका साथै कटुवालले रकमसमेत माग गरेको प्रहरीको भनाइ छ ।

घटनाबारे प्राप्त निवेदनमाथि गरिएको प्राविधिक विश्लेषण तथा अनुसन्धानबाट कटुवालको संलग्नता खुलेपछि उनलाई पक्राउ गरिएको प्रहरीले जनाएको छ ।

पक्राउ परेका कटुवालमाथि विद्युतीय कारोबार ऐन, २०६३ अन्तर्गतको कसुरमा अनुसन्धान भइरहेको छ । उनलाई काठमाडौं जिल्ला अदालतबाट सात दिनको म्याद थप गरी थप अनुसन्धान अघि बढाइएको साइबर ब्युरोले जनाएको छ ।

समाचारः Techpana

https://www.techpana.com/2026/158602/facebook-character-assassination-extortion-arrest?fbclid=IwdGRjcAT0rq9wZG9mAWZkaWQWUM7psesJpPqs2BlrGm2zQwGR860GjWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4Sm9qrnJasFnuJB5TbXcTHxdZ2tUydmOLoDLCtXHgtFlAnp83oAF7bYvrIIA_aem_uB8hqgDZgHNUIB0iexg0pA

20/08/2026

फेसबुकमा नाबालिकाको चरित्र हत्या गरी रकम माग्ने एक जना पक्राउ

20/08/2026

Most parents worry about their children’s screen time. Many blame their children.

But long screen time is not simply a matter of choice. Digital systems are often designed to capture and retain attention.

So, who benefits when children spend more time on screens?

Tech Companies: Social-media, gaming and streaming platforms benefit from longer engagement through more data, advertising and revenue.

Advertisers: More screen time creates more opportunities for personalised advertising to influence children’s interests, habits and purchasing behaviour.

App and Game Developers: Reward loops, streaks and notifications encourage continued use, creating opportunities for in-app purchases, upgrades and subscriptions.

Data Brokers: Children’s online activities can generate valuable behavioural data, turning their interests and habits into commercial assets.

Telecom and Internet Providers: Greater screen use increases data consumption and demand for higher-bandwidth and premium packages.

Device Manufacturers: Heavier use can contribute to greater demand for devices and faster replacement cycles.

Content Creators: More screen time generates views, clicks and engagement, supporting income from advertising, sponsorships and platform payments.

Why does this matter?

When powerful commercial interests benefit from longer engagement, children’s wellbeing can become secondary.

Excessive screen use can affect sleep, learning, attention, mental health and healthy development, while increasing exposure to manipulative design, harmful content and targeted advertising.

Responsibility cannot rest solely on children and parents. This is a systemic issue in a digital economy that often rewards attention and engagement over children’s safety and wellbeing.

What needs to change?

Governments, technology companies, schools and parents all have responsibilities. We need stronger regulation, Safety by Design, age-appropriate digital education and healthier digital habits at home.

Children’s attention should not come at the expense of their wellbeing.

Image: AI-generated by ChildSafeNet

19/08/2026

Exposure to hateful and offensive content is not “just online drama”. It is shaping what children and young people come to see as normal.

Research shows that repeated exposure to hate speech and violent content can desensitise young people, reducing empathy and increasing tolerance of abuse.

Reports from UNICEF, EUKidsOnline and Ofcom
find that hate, harassment and humiliating content are among the most common harms children encounter online.

Many children describe such content as “unavoidable”. This is not by accident.

Algorithms reward outrage.

Content that shocks, angers or provokes reactions keeps people scrolling.

Recommendation systems amplify hateful and offensive material because it drives engagement, traffic and profit.

Children and young people are caught in these feedback loops every day.

Where harm is happening mostly

• Short-form video feeds (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts): misogyny, hate speech and extreme narratives boosted by recommendations

• Video platforms and livestreams (YouTube, Twitch): harmful content surfaced via suggested videos and comments

• Messaging apps and group chats (WhatsApp, Snapchat, Discord): slurs, pile-ons and degrading clips normalised as “jokes”

• Gaming and social spaces: harassment and discriminatory language becoming background noise

Why this matters

When hate is constant, empathy erodes. Abuse feels normal. Some children minimise harm. Others join in to avoid becoming targets.

This affects mental health, school life and the safety of girls and marginalised groups, both online and offline.

What needs to change

• Technology companies must put child safety before profit: redesign algorithms, stop amplifying harmful content, enforce rules consistently, and provide safer defaults for children.

• Governments and regulators must set clear standards, demand transparency, and hold platforms accountable.

• Schools and parents should help children understand how algorithms work, challenge hate, and act as active bystanders.

If we ignore online hate, children learn that it is acceptable. We must not let that happen.

Child online safety is not a tech feature.

It is a responsibility.