Hybrid Learning's Hidden Dangers: Online Grooming Vulnerabilities Targeting India's School children (2020-2026)

Author(s)	Dr. P Renuka
Country	India
Abstract	The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a seismic shift in Indian education from physical classrooms to digital platforms, exposing schoolchildren to unprecedented cyber threats—most critically online grooming. While lockdowns ended, hybrid learning models have normalized these vulnerabilities, transforming temporary Zoom risks into persistent dangers embedded in daily blended education. This study traces the evolution of online grooming tactics targeting Indian schoolchildren across platforms like Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and ancillary apps (WhatsApp, Discord) from 2020-2026, documenting how predators exploit unmonitored breakout rooms, shared session links, and teacher oversight gaps. The paper proposes a three-tier framework—technological (AI chat filters), procedural (POCSO-compliant SOPs), and policy (UGC-mandated digital safety curricula)—to secure hybrid learning environments. By bridging pandemic-era cyber-crime patterns with 2026 realities, this work offers actionable safeguards for India's 260+ million schoolchildren navigating blended education's hidden dangers
Keywords	hybrid learning, online grooming, cyber threats, schoolchildren, India, POCSO, cybersecurity education
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-02-18
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.69206

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International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research