Online grooming is a method of sexual harassment against children done through an unusual method, he explained during the Digital Parenting: Technologically Skilled Family to Protect Children Webinar on Wednesday.
Online grooming perpetrators will attempt to build relationship and trust with children or their families for days, weeks, and even months until they find the opportunity to commit sexual harassment of these children.
"Grooming perpetrators are usually 'strangers' and children's close acquaintances, such as friends, educators, and families," he noted.
To prevent children from becoming a victim of online grooming, parents must educate their children about body autonomy.
They should also teach their children that parts of their body that they cover with clothes should not be seen by just anyone.
"We cannot let everyone see them, maybe only parents and doctors during examination," Mulyadi remarked.
In addition, children should be taught the way to uphold their principles and also to fight back if they are forced by someone.
Children should also be taught to always speak freely with parents if something happens, he added.
To this end, it is important for parents to position themselves as a friend to their children, so that they feel comfortable in speaking up. When children are telling something, parents should pay full attention to it.
During the webinar, Mulyadi also underlined the importance of public synergy in parenting as an effort to protect children.
The public is one of the components of the nation mandated to ensure and protect children's rights, he remarked.
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Translator: Anita Permata D, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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