In the contemporary global context, children without parental care placed in foster families face multiple risks, both in the real world and in digital environments. Given that many of these children have previously experienced various forms of trauma, neglect, or abuse, their exposure to digital threats, including cyberbullying, manipulation, online scams, and inappropriate content, further increases their vulnerability. Children who lack developed digital skills, digital literacy, and critical thinking are especially at risk. In this regard, the role of foster carers becomes exceptionally important, as they represent the primary line of support and protection. Their digital competencies and their ability to recognise, understand, and respond to digital risks significantly affect the safety and well-being of the children in their care. Considering the above, this research aims to map the needs and challenges of foster families in the field of children's digital safety, as well as to examine the level of knowledge and skills among foster carers, their understanding of digital risks, and their capacity to respond appropriately to incidents of digital violence. The research was conducted during May and June 2025 using a qualitative research approach to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of foster carers in relation to the topic. Focus group interviews were used as the data collection method. A total of four focus groups were conducted, with participation from 45 foster carers from the areas of Belgrade, Sabac, Valjevo, and Loznica. All participants were part of the Belgrade Centre for Foster Care and Adoption system and had at least two years of experience in foster care, which was the inclusion criterion for the research sample. The findings indicate that foster carers face a range of specific challenges in the area of digital safety, particularly in the context of day-to-day caregiving. These challenges include a lack of information about digital risks, limited competencies to guide children?s online activities, a low level of digital resilience, and insufficient systemic support in protecting children from potentially harmful digital content and behaviours.
Tanasijevic et al. (Wed,) studied this question.