In February 2025, Parents ki Paathshaala hosted a powerful and urgent session titled Silent Threats of Cyberspace, spotlighting a largely unspoken yet rapidly growing danger—Technology-Assisted Child Sexual Abuse (TACSA). With the digital world becoming inseparable from childhood today, expert speaker Shipra led a compelling conversation on how technology is increasingly used to exploit children in invisible, non-contact ways.

Shipra clarified that TACSA includes grooming, sextortion, coerced or self-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and even accidental exposure to explicit content. She highlighted the anonymity and reach digital platforms give perpetrators—making it possible for anyone, anywhere, to target a child. From gaming apps and social media to study groups and mental health forums, online spaces are being misused in ways most parents remain unaware of.

The session unpacked grooming as the most common starting point—where trust is built, then misused. Shipra emphasized how children often don’t disclose abuse out of fear, shame, or device dependency, and how blackmail and emotional manipulation can escalate abuse without ever meeting in person.

Most importantly, the session helped parents identify red flags, understand why children may stay silent, and learn how to respond with trust, calm, and support. Shipra strongly advised against panic or over-controlling behaviors, urging instead open communication, digital literacy, and age-appropriate conversations about safety, sexuality, and online behavior.

The session closed on a hopeful note: while TACSA is real and frightening, awareness and proactive parenting can make a world of difference. As the expert reminded participants, “The goal is not to remove technology from their lives—it is to help them navigate it safely.” A vital session for every parent raising children in today’s hyper-connected world.