On International Safer Internet Day, India emerged as the top-ranked country in Snapchat’s Digital Well-Being Index, scoring 69 out of 100. The report credits strong parental and community support for helping Indian Gen Z navigate online risks despite high digital exposure
ndia emerged as the highest-ranked country in Snapchat’s Digital Well-Being Index (DWBI) 2026. File pic
On International Safer Internet Day, India has emerged as the highest-ranked country in Snapchat’s fourth Digital Well-Being Index (DWBI). The index which tracked the online and psychological well-being of teenagers and young adults across six countries.
The findings of the Index on International Safer Internet Day surveyed more than 9,000 Gen-Z respondents aged between 13 to 24 years in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and France.
Among all the six countries, India scored 69 out of 100 on the index, placing it ahead of the US (67), UK (64), Australia (63), Germany (61) and France (60). The score marks a two-point increase from India’s 2025 reading, making it the highest recorded by any country since the study began.
Researchers further concluded that the core reason behind India’s performance is largely because of the strong family and community support systems, often described as a “parental shield”. This helped Gen Z and the young users cope with online risks despite high levels of digital exposure.
While expressing his views on India’s standout performance at DWBI, Snapchat’s Head of Public Policy, Uthara Ganesh, emphasised, “India’s performance in the Digital Well-Being Index underscores the vital role parents and carers play in shaping healthier online experiences.”
Hailing parental support as the core reason, Ganesh further added, “Even as Indian Gen Z remains highly connected, this parental support builds confidence and resilience, highlighting the importance of strengthening these conversations and support systems further. At Snap, we continue to bolster these safeguards through research, ecosystem collaboration, and tools like Family Center, designed to support parents while respecting teen privacy.”
Around 69 per cent of Indian parents check their children’s online activity regularly
The DWBI also found out that nearly 69 per cent of Indian parents regularly check in on their children’s online activities, compared to 57 per cent in the US and 46 per cent in Germany. At the same time, 62 per cent of Indian parents said they trust their children to navigate the internet responsibly, a figure that has risen slightly from last year.
Indians continue to face online risks
However, despite being ranked as the highest in ‘Digital Well-Being Index’ overall, the report further noted that Indian users continue to face significant online risks. Exposure to personal risk was reported by 79 per cent of respondents, while 66 per cent cited misinformation as a major concern, both higher than in 2024.
On the contrary, a combined 76 per cent of Indian youth who took part in the Index fell into the ‘Thriving’ or ‘Flourishing’ categories of digital well-being. This further indicated largely positive or very positive online experiences.
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