Hyderabad: As India considers new approaches to children’s online safety, a report by NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, says that social media age restrictions alone cannot address the full range of risks children face online. Published by NALSAR and the Indian Governance and Policy Project (IGAP), the report, titled “The Child Safety Imperative: Age-Appropriate Digital Governance Pathways for India”, maps regulatory developments across 57 jurisdictions as of Sept 30, reviews evidence on child and adolescent development and digital wellbeing, and examines gaps in India’s legal and regulatory framework.
We hope this report will provide a useful evidence base for govts and policymakers as they consider new regulatory measures and develop a more coherent approach to online child safety in India,” said Srikrishna Deva Rao, vice-chancellor, NALSAR. For India, the priority should be to ground policy in evidence on child and adolescent development and the risks they encounter online, and to develop safeguards that are effective, proportionate and responsive to their evolving needs and capacities,” said Shachi Solanki, director, IGAP. “Children’s online safety cannot rest principally with children and their families. Parents and schools have an essential role, but digital platforms must also be designed and governed responsibly. Effective protection requires capable institutions, meaningful oversight and safeguards that respect children’s privacy, rights and evolving capacities. “Our research highlights an important distinction between regulating children’s access to social media and making their digital experiences safer. The report recommends that India consider a dedicated, principle-based online child safety framework combining age-appropriate protections, responsible platform design, privacy-preserving age assurance and stronger institutional accountability. It also calls for investment in regulatory capacity, digital literacy and India-specific research.