India tops global digital well-being index, leads in online safety and parental support

With online safety at the forefront of global discussions, India has positioned itself as the leader in digital well-being, topping the global index with a score of 67 out of 100, fueled by a strong foundation of parental trust and support for teens, according to a report released on Monday.

The country ranks first in online satisfaction, with 58% of respondents expressing contentment with their digital experiences, compared to 53% in the US and 42% in the UK, the report by Snap Inc. said.

India also reported the strongest support networks for young people, with respondents having 9 to 12 sources of guidance, such as parents, teachers, and mentors.

However, 78% of Indian Gen Z users sought support from others, up from 65% in 2023, the report added.

There has been an increase in parental engagement, with 70% of parents regularly checking in on their teens’ online activities, up from 62% in 2023.

Indian Gen Z users reported the highest rates of online threats, including sextortion and grooming. About 71% of Indian Gen Z respondents said they had been targeted for sextortion, with 55% falling victim, the report highlighted.

The report also noted that 77% of respondents reported losing control of intimate images they shared, with 80% of these cases involving minors aged 13-17. Additionally, 60% of respondents had experienced grooming, with over half being minors.

Another major concern is the lack of awareness regarding the legal implications of sharing explicit content involving minors.

The report found that 52% of respondents wrongly believed that not reporting such content was legal, the highest percentage among all surveyed countries.

Furthermore, 36% believed it was legal to share and view such images, while 39% thought storing them online was lawful, the findings showed.