Parenthood has never been a walk in the park and now in this tech-savvy, brave new world, it is even less so. Besides the traditional obligations the role entails: feeding, clothing and educating our children, it is now vital to prepare them for the virtual world which now coexists with our reality.

Children of millennials are the first generation ever to have never lived without the technology that has become ingrained in our daily life.

From the moment a baby enters this world, he or she is delivered into an environment that is awash with touchscreens, electronic beeps and a cacophony of ringtones.

By the time children enter primary school, most are quite conversant with some form of technology and proficiently using technology seems like second nature to a lot of them.

From experience, I can say that it is indeed quite fascinating to watch. However, I believe that as parents we need to be more aware and more vigilant when it comes to our children’s activity online.

And certainly, we should never underestimate our children’s intelligence and know-how; never believe that just because a child is still of a tender age, he or she is incapable of navigating the internet. We must bear in mind that curiosity is what motivates children and what is ultimately their most valuable learning tool.

Essentially, we know the perils of the internet, we have all heard the horror stories, but we need to transmit this knowledge to our children in a way that makes sense to them. Being sat at home, a familiar and safe environment, in front of a screen, lulls children into a false sense of security, which may adversely blur the lines between what is real and what is not.

 In other words, we need to make our children aware that there are boundaries between the real and virtual world and these would be dangerous to cross.

We also need to make sure what can and cannot be accessed on our children’s devices and instal the necessary safeguards to ensure their constant, online safety

With this scenario in mind, MITA is launching a national campaign that addresses cybersecurity, creating awareness about the negative aspects of our online presence. This, we believe, is the way forward in educating our children and communicating to them a sense of responsibility for their online activity.

But ultimately, the buck stops with us, the parents.

Even for adults, who have a better perception of what’s involved, the virtual world could prove immersive, dangerous and addictive, let alone for a child who is left to his or her own devices unsupervised for long periods of time.

No sane parent would ever leave their child alone in a room full of strangers, would they? So, how does the fact that despite our son or daughter is sat in his or her room, virtually interacting with a roomful of strangers, make it any different or any less dangerous?

We also need to make sure what can and cannot be accessed on our children’s devices and instal the necessary safeguards to ensure their constant, online safety.

Protecting one’s privacy online can be a daunting task and even more so for a child, but we need to hammer home the message in a language that they understand, that for example, revealing personal information greatly increases the chances of cyberbullying and abuse.

As children turn into adolescents, discovering their new-found yearning for independence from their parents, it is even more imperative that these are aware of their responsibilities and the pitfalls they face, especially on social media.

As they spread their wings further, teens will also delve into the world of online purchasing. They need to be made aware of bogus websites and dodgy scams which will inevitably make them part with their hard-earned money, never to be heard from again.

Parents must build a rapport, an environment wherein children feel comfortable discussing their online activity and wherein they can address any niggling concerns they might have.

All in all, we must accept that technology is here to stay; a wonderful tool that is now part of our children’s lives.

As a politician, I believe that widely available technology creates a level playing field for our younger generations, wherein previously unattainable opportunities are now at their fingertips.

As a father, however, while I applaud the rapid advancement of technology, I feel that as parents we need to constantly evolve with these developments, inform ourselves and relay this information to our children as best we can, for a safer, knowledgeable and more enjoyable online experience.

Silvio Schembri is Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation.

This is a Times of Malta print opinion piece