Safeguarding Children’s Digital Consumption: Navigating Online Fraud, Ai Manipulation, And Gaming Influence in Post-Pandemic India

Author(s)	Dr. Shamikh Arsh
Country	India
Abstract	The COVID-19 pandemic and recurring environmental crises such as Delhi’s hazardous air quality levels have forced an unprecedented shift toward online education, dramatically increasing children’s screen time and digital dependency. This paper examines how emergency-driven digitalization has exposed children to heightened risks including online fraud, AI manipulation, gaming addiction, and behavioral changes shaped by digital content. Through secondary analysis of existing policies, programs, and frameworks including India’s National Education Policy 2020, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, and international child protection mechanisms, this research evaluates the adequacy of current safeguards. Drawing on published empirical data from the COVID-19 and Delhi AQI crisis periods, the study documents how prolonged online learning and gaming engagement affects children’s information consumption patterns, social behaviors, and vulnerability to digital threats. The findings reveal significant policy-implementation gaps and propose a comprehensive framework integrating legislative measures, educational interventions, parental guidance, and platform accountability.
Keywords	online education, child protection policies, digital dependency, information literacy
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-05-14
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.78501

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research