Skip to main content

Session 1: Getting Started with Cyber Well-being.

We spend a lot of time online, on smartphones, tablets, or computers. Sometimes it is for fun, sometimes for learning, and sometimes just to pass the time. But every message, click, and post is not always safe. This session helps us understand cyber well-being and basic online safety.

Session Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Explain cyber well-being in simple terms.

  • Understand how smartphones are used in daily life and how they connect us online.

  • Identify personal information and decide what can be shared with friends, family, or strangers, and what should stay private.

  • Recognize safe and unsafe online actions.

  • Determine appropriate actions when something online feels strange.

  • Identify who to contact when help is needed.

What is cyber well-being?

Cyber well-being means using the internet in a safe and healthy way. It means protecting your privacy, thinking before you click or reply, being respectful online, and asking for help when something feels wrong.

The world of smartphones

Smartphones are part of daily life ; people use them to talk to family, learn new things, play games, watch videos, and stay in touch with friends. Along with these benefits, smartphones also connect users to people they do not know, so it is important to be thoughtful about what is done and shared on them.

  • Smartphones help us learn, connect with family and friends, enjoy entertainment, and access information quickly.

  • Smartphones can also expose us to strangers online, unwanted messages, and apps or links that are not always safe.

Who can I share information with?

Not all information should be shared in the same way with everyone. It is important to think about who is receiving the information before sharing anything online.

Who You're Talking To What Is Usually Okay to Share What to Avoid Sharing
Family Daily updates, feelings, and plans Passwords and OTPs should still be protected carefully
Friends Hobbies, interests, and general chat Home address, exact location, and private photos
Strangers online Nothing personal Name, address, phone number, school details, photos, passwords, and OTPs

What should stay private and why?

Not everything belongs online. Sharing certain details can put your safety, security, and future opportunities at risk. Review this guide to understand why keeping these items private is essential for your well-being.

Personal Information Why it needs to be private
Home Address & Exact Location Sharing this can allow strangers to track your physical whereabouts, compromising your safety.
Phone Number Publicly posting your number can lead to unwanted calls, spam, and potential harassment.
Date of Birth This is a key piece of information used for identity theft and account takeovers.
Passwords, PINs & OTPs These are the "keys" to your digital life; sharing them gives others total control over your accounts.
School/Institution Details Revealing where you live or study can help malicious actors target you or your community.
Private Photos Once shared, control over who sees or uses them can be lost.

Privacy Rule of Thumb: If you wouldn't tell a total stranger this information in the street, you shouldn't post it online where everyone can see it.

Safe online habits

Habit Action
Protect Your Accounts Use strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts.
Keep Credentials Private Never share passwords, PINs, or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) with anyone.
Verify Before Clicking Avoid opening unknown or suspicious links, regardless of how urgent they may appear.
Seek Guidance Ask a trusted adult or staff member before downloading any new apps or games.
Secure Your Sessions Always log out of your accounts after using public or shared devices.
Speak Up Immediately inform a trusted adult if you receive a message or see content that makes you feel scared, confused, or upset.

Story: Rohit and the fake prize

Rohit is 16 and lives in a child care institution. He receives a WhatsApp message from an unknown number saying, “You have won a free gaming voucher. Click the link and send your mobile number and OTP to claim it”. Rohit feels excited for a moment, then pauses and realizes that a stranger should not be asking for an OTP. He shows the message to a staff member instead of clicking, and the staff member tells him it is unsafe and asks him to block the number.

Activity 1: True or False

  1. You should share your home address online.
    ☐ True ☐ False

  2. Strong passwords use letters, numbers, and symbols.
    ☐ True ☐ False

  3. If a stranger asks for your personal information online, it is safe to give it.
    ☐ True ☐ False

  4. Cyberbullying means being mean to someone using the internet.
    ☐ True ☐ False

  5. If something online makes you uncomfortable, you should tell a trusted adult.
    ☐ True ☐ False

Activity 2: Safe or unsafe

  1. Clicking on an unknown link.
    ☐ Safe ☐ Unsafe

  2. Asking permission before downloading an app.
    ☐ Safe ☐ Unsafe

  3. Sharing an OTP with a friend.
    ☐ Safe ☐ Unsafe

  4. Logging out after using a public computer.
    ☐ Safe ☐ Unsafe

  5. Sending a rude message in a group chat.
    ☐ Safe ☐ Unsafe

  6. Telling a trusted adult about a strange message.
    ☐ Safe ☐ Unsafe

Activity 3: Keep it private

Sort these items into the right category by deciding what is safe to share online and what should stay private.

Item Category (Safe to Share / Do Not Share)
Favourite colour  
Hobby  
Favourite song  
Favourite food  
Favourite subject  
Home address  
Phone number  
Date of birth  
Password  
OTP  

Activity 4: Who Am I Talking To?

For each item below, decide who it is okay to share it with: Family, Close Friends, or No One Online.

  1. My school name: _________________

  2. My daily routine or timing: _________________

  3. My phone number: _________________

  4. My favourite hobby: _________________

  5. My home address: _________________

Activity 4: Match the situation with the response

Situation Response
Unknown message asking for personal details Tell a trusted adult
Suspicious link Do not click it
Rude online comment Block and report
Request for password or OTP Do not share
Confusing message from a stranger Ask for help before replying

Activity 5: Fill in the blanks

  1. Never share your _________________ with strangers online.

  2. Always ask _________________ before downloading apps or games.

  3. If you see something scary online, tell _________________.

  4. A strong password should be hard to _________________.

  5. OTP stands for _________________.

Activity 6: What would you do?

  1. What should you do if someone is mean to you online?

  1. Why is it important to log out from public computers?

  1. Name one way to make your password strong.

  1. Who is one trusted adult you can speak to if something online feels wrong?

Quick Recap

Topic Action
Personal Privacy Smartphones help with learning, connection, and entertainment, but they also connect users to strangers and risks online.
Credentials Security Do not share personal information with strangers, and think carefully about who you are sharing with.
Link Safety Think before clicking unknown links.
Reporting Talk to a trusted adult if something online feels wrong.
One line to remember

Stop. Think. Check. Ask.

No comments to display

Back to top