Digital Children – Participation of Georgi Elenkov from NNC in a Podcast on Safe Internet Topics

National network for children and part of the team supporting the Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre. The discussion is dedicated to the challenges facing children in the digital space and ways to protect them, with Georgi talking about the work of the Center, its cooperation with state institutions and large technology platforms such as Meta and Google.

The main online threats to children today are discussed in detail. They talk about exposure to harmful content – from violence and hatred to pornography and dangerous challenges. The various forms of online harassment are examined, including through fake profiles on Instagram and Discord, as well as the misuse of personal data and digital identity. The most serious crimes are also thoroughly described, such as sextortion (blackmail with intimate photos and videos, including computer-generated images), phishing attacks and financial fraud targeting adolescents. The second part of the conversation touches on new and emerging threats that are still poorly visible to most parents, as well as risks that are massively underestimated. The delicate topic of how to be an informed and involved parent without crossing the line into an over-controlling “helicopter parent” is discussed. Finally, Kiv, Tulechki, and Georgi reflect on whether they wish they had grown up in the world of the “safe” internet that exists today.

BFPA is part of the consortium supporting the Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre and actively works for causes related to overcoming online threats to children. In his participation, Georgi Elenkov talks in detail about some of our activities.