WHEN THE INTERNET TURNS UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN
~ Khushi Aggarwal
Introduction
The digital world opens doors for kids by offering them the opportunities to learn, connect and explore. But these same doors lead them to trouble. Recently, the access to smartphones for young kids and unlimited data plans has, to some extent, undermined the caution or rather vigilance of parents. Children are living a dual life in this online, digitalized world, far away from their parents, teachers and even the law. As children move deeper into technology’s embrace, the dangers change shape. They move fast, fast enough that it leaves the laws and protections scrambling to keep up and sadly, often falling short.
The Illusion of Safety Online
When we try to address the question of child exploitation, we often end it by saying, “Don’t talk to strangers online,” but does it truly hold true in today’s interconnected world? Online child exploitation isn’t as visible as one may presume. It isn’t direct rather, it wears many masks. It’s more than the cliché of a stranger lurking in dark forums. Rather, it comes in layers of harm ranging from grooming and sextortion to trafficking. Unwanted exposure to sexual content can potentially lead to the creation and dissemination of child sexual abuse material [1]. Abusers are everywhere on social media, in games and inside harmless-looking apps, waiting to manipulate and control children.
From Friendship to Fear in a Few Clicks
You must have heard people having various accounts on social media, some private, others public and some completely hidden. While this may look harmless, it becomes problematic when fake profiles are used to exploit others. A recent case in India highlighted this issue. A 19-year-old engineering student was caught for posing as a girl on Instagram and blackmailing and stalking a minor girl. He used the tactic of morphing her pictures and then coercing her to share nude videos. Once started from a seemingly innocent chat, the threats are often unpredictable especially in the case of children. [2]
These cases are not isolated. They happen too often, but there is also a huge gap between the occurrence and the reporting of such cases. Mostly because of the reason of social stigma and the terror of being exposed by the offenders. It also raises another glaring question that is; are we aware of our surroundings enough to spot and know if children around us are becoming a victim of such abuse? Do we really know about their presence on digital platforms?
Why Victims Stay Quiet and Offenders Walk Free
The POCSO Act and the IT Act aim for protection for child victims of online exploitation in India. Yet, in practice, justice is often out of reach. The reasons run deeper than laws. Social and systemic hurdles block the way. Stigma and shame still hang over families, especially in rural and semi-urban places. Fear of being ostracized stops many from coming forward. In silence, perpetrators thrive. Case studies confirm this pattern, showing how quiet communities can make cycles of abuse persist. [3]
When families do agree to report, the process ahead is often daunting and complex. As procedures drag on, children are made to revisit their trauma many times. These settings lack the empathy and child-friendly approach that is truly required. The lack of trained and qualified staff, especially women officers and specialized prosecutors also poses a systemic problem. Without them, critical steps like taking a child’s statement safely are often skipped or mishandled.[4]
Then comes the digital gap. Many parents and teachers, particularly in rural India, can’t spot the warning signs of online abuse. Navigating digital risks isn’t easy if you don’t know they exist. This knowledge gap leads to underreporting. Many families believe reporting brings only more trouble or shame, and that it’s better to stay quiet.
A Policy Shift Still Waiting for Impact
India’s online child protection story needs more than fresh laws. Transformation is key both in what the laws say and how they live in practice. The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, and DPDP Rules, 2025 mark a shift by asserting that social media, gaming, and e-commerce platforms must now do the heavy lifting. That means verifying minors’ ages, checking for parental consent, banning targeted ads, and stopping behavioural tracking of kids. Stakes are high as non-compliance could cost more than ₹200 crore. Still, critics are quick to point out that enforcement is fuzzy, unclear, and inconsistent. [5]
In a similar vein, the POCSO Act experiences delays, underreporting, and resource shortages even though it appears to be strong on paper. Many victims experience ongoing trauma and unresolved cases because of judicial backlogs and lack of capacity to deal with young digital victims. [6]
Since digital crimes are also often cross-borders, India needs to improve cross-border cooperation and align its cyber laws with international standards to genuinely transform the system. The effectiveness of cross-border action is demonstrated by the CBI’s 2025 Operation Hawk, which was supported by US intelligence (7). On a domestic level, platforms have been held legally responsible for removing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or risk losing their safe harbour protections under Section 79 of the IT Act (8).
Child-friendly procedures under POCSO like speedy hearings and video testimonies are essential, but too often ignored, especially in the lower courts. The digital literacy gap looms large. No doubt there’s momentum through drives, digital handbooks, outreach from the Ministry of Home Affairs but these efforts must go faster and broader if they’re to change lives for real.
Beyond Hashtags and Toward Real Safety
The digital world is only going to expand. To keep children safe within it, we need to be watchful. We need to be creative. Most importantly, we need to listen to what young people say they need. This isn’t a one-person job. India’s policy path must bring everyone to the table: lawmakers, tech firms, judges, educators. Each plays a role. Laws must evolve. Technology firms must own their responsibilities. Courts must understand digital realities. Grassroots education must reach every corner. It takes all these elements working together. Only then does child safety online become a reality and not a slogan, not a hashtag, but a promise kept.
Author’s Bio- Khushi Aggarwal is an Intern at Research and Knowledge Exchange, CRY. She has done M.A. in Public Policy and Governance from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi.
References:
- University of Alberta. (n.d.). Sexual exploitation of children and youth over the internet: A rapid review of the scientific literature. https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/d45bd9d4-2c28-4172-8f91-c529e8d96df7/view/7b0416bb-843f-4492-a872-2388ed56bec2/sexual_exploitation_of_children_and_youth_over_the_internet_a_rapid_review_of_the_scientific_literature-20(1).pdf
- Times of India. (2024,January 4). Engineering student held for stalking & blackmailing women on Instagram https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/engineering-student-held-for-stalking-blackmailing-women-on-instagram/articleshow/106529159.cms
- ScienceDirect. (2025).Behind the screens: Understanding the gaps in India’s fight against online child sexual abuse and exploitation. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193824000883
- Monash Lens. (2025, February 25). Digital child abuse: Deepfakes and the rising danger of AI-generated exploitation. https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2025/02/25/1387341/digital-child-abuse-deepfakes-and-the-rising-danger-of-ai-generated-exploitation
- India Today NE. (2025, January 20). Rights of children in the cyberspace. https://www.indiatodayne.in/national/story/rights-of-children-in-the-cyberspace-888527-2025-01-20
- Khatoon, R., & Kumar, R. (2025). POCSO Act implementation in India: Challenges and solutions. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts https://www.ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2505436.pdf
- News On AIR. (2025, April 30). CBI dismantles international online child sexual exploitation network. https://www.newsonair.gov.in/cbi-dismantles-international-online-child-sexual-exploitation-network/
- Digital Watch. (2023). India orders social media companies to get rid of child sexual abuse material. https://dig.watch/updates/india-orders-social-media-companies-to-get-rid-of-child-sexual-abuse-material
- Phansalkar-Joshi, S. S. (2016). Creating a child-friendly POCSO court. National Judicial Academy. https://nja.gov.in/Concluded_Programmes/2016-17/P-1015_PPTs/3.CREATING%20A%20CHILD-FRIENDLY%20POCSO%20COURT.pdf
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. (2024). Lok Sabha annexure: Steps taken by the government to regulate online pornography. Government of India.
https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/1715/AU835.pdf?source=pqals