PVLF 2026

Interview with Pooja Malhotra, Author of “Bulletproof Your Child Online”

Cyber safety expert Pooja Malhotra shares insights from her book Bulletproof Your Child Online, guiding parents to protect kids in the digital age.
on Sep 22, 2025

Frontlist: What inspired you to write Bulletproof Your Child Online? Was there a personal experience that led you to address the urgent need for online safety among children?

Pooja: My journey in cyber safety began with a life-changing incident I witnessed. A young enthusiastic 14-year-old boy — a bright student and ace footballer — was relentlessly bullied online not by strangers, but by his own team mates, his so-called friends. The cruel posts and humiliation he faced broke his spirit so badly that he decided to quit not just the game he loved, but the game of life itself.

That loss changed me forever. It opened my eyes to the silent wounds of cyberbullying and how urgently children and parents need guidance. Bulletproof Your Child Online is my attempt to ensure no family has to experience such suffering, helplessness, and irreversible loss. It’s a call to action for every parent to become their child’s first line of defense in the digital world.

One story of loss sparked a mission of hope. My vision is a cyberspace where every young person feels confident, safe, and celebrated a place where you don’t just survive online, you thrive, you shine.

Frontlist: In today’s era, digital literacy is as essential as traditional literacy. How do you see cyber awareness acting as a form of liberation for both parents and children?

Pooja: True literacy today is incomplete without cyber literacy. When parents and children understand some very simple yet effective cyber safety rules, fear turns into freedom. Instead of feeling powerless before screens, families can reclaim control. For children, cyber awareness is liberation from online manipulation, scams, cyber bullying and peer pressure. For parents, it removes the anxiety of “not knowing enough” and empowers them to guide children, without being overbearing. In essence, cyber awareness transforms technology from a threat into a tool of empowerment, learning, and connection.

Frontlist: Among the risks you mention—cyberbullying, identity theft, and stranger danger—which do you think parents underestimate the most, and why?

Pooja: Parents underestimate cyberbullying the most—because it doesn’t leave visible scars. A hacked account or stolen money demands urgent action, but the emotional damage from cyberbullying often gets dismissed as “part of growing up.” That mindset is dangerous. Words and images can pierce deeper than weapons, and the anonymity of the internet magnifies the cruelty. Parents need to recognize that emotional well-being online is just as critical as physical safety offline.

Frontlist: Your book presents “Seven Safety Rules.” Which one do you feel forms the cornerstone of online safety, and how can parents implement it in daily life?

Pooja: The cornerstone rule is best summed up in my belief:

“To unplug kids, we must first plug into their lives.”

Online safety begins not with restrictions, but with connection. Parents must keep the communication channel open—having ongoing, honest conversations about online behavior, peer pressure, and choices. When children feel heard and guided, not judged or threatened, they are far more likely to share their experiences.

It’s also important to recognize that a child’s biggest fear is often losing access to their device. If parents use that as punishment, children may start hiding problems. But if parents use communication as their tool, trust becomes the real safeguard.

Frontlist: Many parents feel their children are more tech-savvy than them. How can parents bridge this knowledge gap while still staying in control of their child’s digital safety?

Pooja: Parents don’t need to know every app or hack. They need to master values and boundaries. Just as a parent may not know every subject their child studies, they still shape discipline, ethics, and resilience. Bridging the gap begins with honest conversations—asking children to teach them

about new platforms. This not only reduces the knowledge gap but also strengthens trust. Control doesn’t come from surveillance; it comes from involvement. The moment a child feels their parent is willing to learn alongside them, a partnership is built.

Frontlist: Online platforms also create opportunities for learning and creativity. How can parents strike the balance between allowing freedom and ensuring protection?

Pooja: The key is guided freedom. Technology is like water. In the right amount, it sustains life and growth. But unchecked, it can flood and overwhelm. Parents act as the dam—controlling the flow, so it empowers rather than drowns!

Parents can set clear time limits, encourage content creation over passive consumption, and co-explore online resources. Balance is not about restriction—it’s about redirection. When children see technology as a space for growth rather than endless scrolling, protection becomes a by-Product..

Frontlist: While researching for this book, what challenges did you face in translating complex cyber issues into simple, practical advice for parents?

Pooja: The greatest challenge was cutting through jargon. Cybercrime investigators, lawyers, and IT experts often speak in a language that intimidates parents. My task was to become a translator—taking technical complexities and presenting them as simple steps any parent could apply. I drew heavily from real-life workshops with parents and students, refining my message until it resonated. The challenge was also the gift: if parents found my book easy to follow, I knew I had succeeded in making cyber safety accessible.

Frontlist: Looking at the future, how do you envision digital parenting evolving, and what role do you hope your book plays in shaping that journey?

Pooja: Right now, I see parents struggling. For many families, the internet has quietly become the new nanny—keeping children engaged, entertained, and even pacified. But this reliance comes at a cost, and parenting in the digital era is not going to get easier. As screens become more embedded in education, friendships, and identity, the challenge will only grow.

That’s why digital parenting must shift from reactive firefighting to proactive coaching. Instead of scrambling after something goes wrong, parents need to raise children can make mindful choices, safeguard themselves, and honor who they are—both online and offline.

My dream is that Bulletproof Your Child Online becomes not just a book, but a movement—a guidebook every household keeps on their shelf, like a first-aid kit. Because in today’s world, protecting a child’s digital life is inseparable from protecting their real life.