Screened Childhoods: Rethinking Internet Freedom and Child Protection in India

Chatrugun Khaldhania

Screened Childhoods: Rethinking Internet Freedom and Child Protection in India

Author(s)	Dr. Chatrugun Khaldhania
Country	India
Abstract	The unprecedented expansion of digital technology and smartphone accessibility has significantly transformed the lifestyle, communication patterns, and learning environment of children in India. While the internet has emerged as an essential medium for education, social interaction, and access to information, its unrestricted and unsupervised use among children below the age of sixteen has generated serious legal, psychological, and social concerns. Excessive exposure to smartphones and online platforms has contributed to rising incidents of cyberbullying, online gaming addiction, exposure to obscene content, social media dependency, mental health disorders, sleep disturbances, declining academic performance, and cyber exploitation of minors. Despite the increasing vulnerability of children in the digital ecosystem, India still lacks a comprehensive legal framework specifically regulating internet and smartphone usage by minors. This research paper critically examines the necessity of introducing a specialized legal mechanism for regulating internet and smartphone use among children below sixteen years of age in India. The study adopts a doctrinal and socio-legal research methodology by analysing constitutional provisions, statutory frameworks, judicial pronouncements, policy developments, international practices, and contemporary social realities reflected through newspaper reports and empirical observations. The paper evaluates the effectiveness of existing legislations such as the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Information Technology Rules, 2021 in addressing digital harms faced by children. The study further undertakes a comparative analysis of legal approaches adopted in jurisdictions such as the United States, the European Union, China, and Australia concerning age-based digital restrictions and child online safety. It argues that the doctrine of welfare of the child, constitutional morality, and the State’s obligation under the principle of parens patriae justify reasonable regulatory intervention in children’s digital access. The paper concludes that India urgently requires a balanced and child-centric legal framework that harmonizes technological freedom with the protection of minors, while ensuring responsible digital governance, parental accountability, and safe online environments for children.
Keywords	Children, Internet Regulation, Smartphone Addiction, Child Protection, Cyber Law, Digital Rights, Social Media Regulation
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-07-04

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CrossRef DOI prefix of IJFMR is 10.36948/ijfmr

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Screened Childhoods: Rethinking Internet Freedom and Child Protection in India

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