Motherhood certainly changes perspective. On Safer Internet Day, February 10, Shilpa Shetty took to Instagram not as a celebrity, but as a worried parent thinking about how deeply the internet shapes young minds today.
She acknowledged that the online world offers endless opportunities. Children can learn new skills, explore creativity, and access knowledge instantly. But she also reminded parents that the same space can expose them to content they may not be emotionally prepared to handle.
Instead of calling for strict bans or harsh rules, Shilpa focused on balance. She suggested that parenting in a tech-driven world is not about completely cutting off screen time. It is about being aware. According to her, what truly matters is understanding what children are watching, scrolling through, and absorbing & how it influences their thoughts and behavior.
She encouraged parents to stay involved in their children’s digital lives. Knowing what they consume online and having regular conversations at home can make a big difference. Open dialogue, she believes, builds awareness and trust. When parents stay silent, children may turn to the internet for answers without guidance. Teaching them that not everything online is real, kind, or safe is an essential life lesson.
While parental control tools can help, Shilpa emphasized that supervision and trust, especially during the teenage years, should be seen as protection, not control.
She ended her message by admitting that no parent has all the answers. Still, she stressed that conversations about safe internet use must begin now. By supporting each other and staying engaged, families can raise children who are digitally aware, not digitally dependent.
