Online gaming platforms are increasingly becoming hunting grounds for predators targeting children, warned experts during a webinar organized by NGO Daat Foundation in collaboration with Indian Defence Company Covints. The four-hour session, held on June 23, 2026, brought together psychologists, child protection specialists, cybersecurity experts, anti-human trafficking professionals, and legal experts to sensitize parents, teachers, and child rights stakeholders about growing digital threats.
Risks to Physical and Mental Health
Dr. Simranjeet Kaur, who welcomed participants, highlighted that excessive gaming adversely affects children's physical health, mental and emotional well-being, social interactions, and academic development. She warned that online gaming platforms are increasingly exploited to groom children and lure them into harmful and illegal activities. Dr. Kaur also cautioned about an emerging trend: the digital ecosystem is creating what she described as a 'new form of child labour,' where children invest significant time and effort in creating, modifying, and sustaining online gaming content while gradually disconnecting from real-world learning and development opportunities.
Predator Manipulation Tactics
Dr. Shaveta Bhardwaj, a renowned psychologist, spoke on how predators manipulate and exploit children through digital platforms. She urged parents to create a healthy home environment where children feel heard and supported. Stressing the importance of communication, healthy boundaries, physical activities, and hobbies, she encouraged parents to help children find happiness and fulfillment in the real world rather than relying solely on digital engagement.
Swapnil Kishore, CEO of Covints and an anti-human trafficking and cybersecurity expert, highlighted how online gaming platforms are increasingly exploited by predators to target children. He discussed various grooming techniques and warned about the misuse of digital platforms for trafficking, manipulation, and other forms of exploitation. He also spoke about the role of dark psychology in influencing vulnerable adolescents.
Digital Platforms and Human Trafficking
Dr. Aman Sharma, State Consultant (Child Protection) for UNICEF Bihar, elaborated on the growing misuse of digital platforms for human trafficking, financial fraud, fake marriages, and other crimes. Through case studies, he explained the methods used by offenders and stressed the importance of safe digital environments at home and regular communication between parents and children. He also encouraged schools to introduce digital safety education and awareness sessions for parents.
Legal Perspectives on Cybercrimes
Advocate Tabish Ahmad of the Patna High Court discussed the increasing involvement of children and adolescents in cyber-enabled financial crimes, particularly through mule accounts. He explained how young people are often lured into illegal activities without fully understanding the consequences. Through various case studies, he emphasized that awareness and early intervention are essential to protecting children from becoming victims or participants in cybercrime.
Call for Collaborative Action
During the webinar, experts expressed concern over the rising number of cybercrimes against children and highlighted the urgent need for preventive action, awareness, and stronger child protection mechanisms in the digital space. Concluding the session, Dr. Simranjeet Kaur called for a collaborative approach involving parents, schools, teachers, NGOs, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers to ensure children's safety online.
She remarked, 'If you feel safe leaving your child alone in a crowd of millions that includes predators and paedophiles, then you can allow your child to play online games. Every parent must understand that online gaming is not just a game, it is a virtual world where anyone can interact with a child.' She further emphasized that prevention remains the most effective strategy for safeguarding children and urged authorities to strengthen cybercrime investigations involving children through a child-sensitive approach.
Launch of 'Digitally Safe Childhood' Campaign
The webinar marked the beginning of Daat Foundation's broader campaign for a 'Digitally Safe Childhood,' aimed at strengthening child protection systems and promoting safer digital environments for children across India.
