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Space2Grow Releases Report on Digital Safety of Children

Space2Grow has unveiled a groundbreaking report, "Digital Safety of Children: Creating Safe Online Spaces," highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive measures to protect children online.

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DQI Bureau
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Digital Safety
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Space2Grow, a leading social impact consulting firm, has recently released a landmark report titled "Digital Safety of Children: Creating Safe Online Spaces." The study has highlighted some very critical insights into the digital safety landscape for children and called for stronger measures and awareness across stakeholders.

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This report draws extensively from research. There were over 700 focus group discussions, as well as in-depth interviews with 100 parents and views of educators, law enforcement personnel, judiciary members, mental health professionals, industry experts, and journalists.

Key Findings

Children's Internet Usage:

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  • 79% use the internet to have fun
  • 69% to communicate with friends, 33% for e-learning, making it 7th in rank of importance.
  • The internet access is equal in terms of gender and rural-urban differences

Platform Preferences:

  • 92% visit social media sites, 43% use online gaming sites and 24% EdTech platforms.
  • Alarmingly, 46% joined social media and 58% gaming platforms before meeting minimum age requirements, largely driven by peer and sibling influence.
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Digital Risks:

  • Gaming platforms report the highest abuse rate at 54%, followed by social media at 38% and EdTech platforms at 26%.
  • Risks include grooming, stalking, bullying, phishing, and identity theft.

Awareness Gaps:

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  • Only 30% of children are aware of online safety measures.
  • 65% of parents and 74% of teachers lack knowledge of digital safety protocols.
  • 80% of urban parents do not know what the minimum age is to be on the digital platforms.

Reporting Issues:

  • Child Self -interventions are favored in 79%, while for the pre-teens and teens, they confide with parents by 67% and 53%, respectively
  • Formal reports for only 9% as there is stigma when reporting.
  • Parent and schools will not report out of fear for stigma
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Chitra Iyer, co-founder and CEO of Space2Grow, feels that there is an urgent need for trust and awareness in digital safety. "Our research, in particular in relation to the DPDP Act 2023 and DPDP Rules 2025, indicates a high degree of lack of awareness by parents and children. Parents want certified platform listings for informed consent and safer interaction," she added.

Iyer also emphasized that both the platform and governments should collaborate to protect children, holding them accountable to a higher extent.

Recommendations

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The study advocates for extensive digital safety education, strong reporting mechanisms, and the active involvement of parents, educators, and policymakers. Space2Grow has developed the URBKAP framework—a structured approach using a vulnerability versus protection matrix. The aim is to assist stakeholders in identifying risks, bridging knowledge gaps, and formulating effective interventions.

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