Keeping Children Safe Online: A Practical Guide for Indian Parents

Key points

Set screen-time rules based on your child's age, and keep phones and tablets out of bedrooms at night.
Use free tools you already have: Google Family Link, YouTube Kids or supervised YouTube, and Google Play parental controls.
Teach children never to share OTPs, UPI PINs, passwords, photos or their home address with anyone online, including "friends" from games.
Watch for warning signs of cyberbullying or grooming: secrecy, sudden mood changes, or fear after using the phone.
If money is lost or a child is threatened online, call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 immediately and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.

Most Indian children now use a smartphone for online classes, homework, videos or games, often a parent's phone. The internet brings real benefits: learning videos, practice tests, and staying in touch with family. It also brings real risks, from harmful content to strangers in game chats to fraud that empties a parent's bank account.

You do not need to be a technology expert to protect your child. This guide gives simple, practical steps any parent can follow, organised by age and by risk.

Screen time: age-wise guidance

The World Health Organization recommends no sedentary screen time for children under two, and no more than one hour a day for children aged two to four, with less being better. For older children there is no single correct number. What matters most is that screens do not replace sleep, physical activity, homework and family time.

Age	Suggested approach	Parent's role
Under 2 years	Avoid screens, except video calls with family	Talk, read and play instead
2 to 5 years	Up to one hour a day of good-quality content	Watch together and talk about what you see
6 to 9 years	Fixed, limited time on weekdays; more on weekends if routines are kept	Choose apps and videos; keep devices in shared rooms
10 to 12 years	Agreed daily limit; no devices at meals or bedtime	Set up parental controls; check in on games and chats
13 years and above	More independence with clear family rules	Discuss privacy, scams and online behaviour openly

Simple house rules that work for most families:

No phones or tablets in the bedroom at night. Charge all devices in the living room.
Homework first, then entertainment. Our guide on homework routines can help.
No screens during meals.
Screens off at least one hour before sleep.
Parents follow the same rules where possible. Children copy what they see.

Setting up parental controls

Google Family Link (Android phones and tablets)

Family Link is a free app from Google. It lets you create and manage a Google account for a child and supervise their Android device from your own phone.

Install the Google Family Link app on your phone from the Play Store.
Follow the steps to create a Google account for your child, or link their existing account. Teenagers will need to agree to supervision.
Set a daily screen-time limit and a bedtime when the device locks.
Turn on app approval so your child must ask before downloading any app.
Review content filters for Google Play, Chrome and Search.
Check the weekly activity report to see which apps are used most.

YouTube

For young children, use the YouTube Kids app, where you can choose an age level and turn off search.
For older children, Google offers a supervised YouTube experience with content settings managed through Family Link.
On a shared family phone, turn on Restricted Mode in YouTube settings. It is not perfect, but it filters a lot of adult content.
Turn off autoplay so one video does not lead to an endless chain.

Google Play Store

Open Play Store, go to Settings, then Family, then Parental controls. Set age ratings for apps and games.
Under authentication settings, require your password or fingerprint for every purchase. This prevents surprise in-app purchases.
Do not leave a UPI app or saved card unlocked on a phone your child uses.

Tip: If your child uses your phone for online classes, create a separate user profile or lock your banking and UPI apps with a fingerprint or app lock. Many fraud cases begin when a child unknowingly shares an OTP or approves a payment request on a parent's phone.

Cyberbullying: signs and response

Cyberbullying is when someone uses messages, comments, photos or videos to hurt, threaten or embarrass a child. It can happen in WhatsApp groups, on Instagram, in game chats or in class groups.

Warning signs

Becomes upset, angry or quiet after using the phone.
Suddenly stops using the phone, or hides the screen when you come near.
Does not want to go to school or meet certain friends.
Changes in sleep, appetite or marks.
Deletes accounts or creates new ones.

What to do

Stay calm and listen. Thank your child for telling you. Do not take away the phone as punishment; that makes children hide problems next time.
Take screenshots of messages, usernames and dates as evidence.
Do not reply to the bully. Block and report them on the platform.
If the bully is a classmate, inform the class teacher or principal in writing.
If there are threats, sexual content or blackmail, report it to the police or at cybercrime.gov.in.

Online games: hidden risks

Popular multiplayer games have chat features where children talk to strangers. Risks include:

Strangers posing as children who build trust and then ask for photos, phone numbers or meetings. This is called grooming.
Fake offers of free coins, skins or diamonds that ask for a login, OTP or payment.
In-app purchases that add up quickly on a parent's card or UPI.
Too much play, leading to lost sleep and falling marks.

Check the age rating of every game. Turn off voice and text chat with strangers where the game allows it. Ask your child to show you the game and who they play with.

UPI and OTP fraud: teach these rules

Children and teenagers are increasingly targeted because fraudsters know they may have access to a parent's phone. Teach these rules clearly:

Never share an OTP with anyone, by call, message or chat. Banks and companies never ask for it.
You never need a UPI PIN to receive money. Entering a PIN always sends money out of the account.
Do not scan QR codes sent by strangers to "receive a prize" or refund.
Do not install apps that someone on a call asks you to install, especially screen-sharing apps.
Ignore messages about winning prizes, free recharges or game rewards.
Tell a parent if anyone pressures you, threatens you or says it is urgent.

Privacy basics for children

Do not post your school name, uniform, home address, phone number or daily routine online.
Keep social media accounts private and accept requests only from people you know in real life.
Turn off location sharing in apps that do not need it.
Use strong passwords and never share them with friends.
Think before posting: anything shared online can be copied and spread, even if deleted later.

Most social media platforms set a minimum age of 13 in their terms. Respecting that rule is a good starting point for younger children.

Tip: Agree on a family "no-blame" rule: if your child sees something scary or makes a mistake online, they can tell you without being punished. Children who fear losing the phone often stay silent until the problem becomes serious.

What to do if something goes wrong

Situation	What to do first
Money lost through UPI, card or OTP fraud	Call 1930 immediately (the national cybercrime helpline). Speed matters for freezing the money. Then file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in and inform your bank.
Threats, blackmail or sexual content involving a child	Do not delete anything. Take screenshots. Report at cybercrime.gov.in or at the nearest police station.
Cyberbullying by classmates	Save evidence, block and report on the app, and inform the school in writing.
Account hacked	Change passwords from a safe device, turn on two-step verification, and use the platform's account recovery.
Child is distressed or unsafe	Stay with them, listen, and contact CHILDLINE on 1098 for support if needed.

When you call 1930, keep these ready: bank or UPI app name, transaction ID or UTR number, date, time, amount, and the fraudster's phone number or profile. You may receive an acknowledgement number; save it and use it when completing your complaint on the portal.

Schools also have a role in online safety. If you are a school leader, our school safety checklist covers both physical and digital safety.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should my child get their own smartphone?

There is no official age. Many parents wait until the child is mature enough to follow rules and understand risks, often around the start of secondary school. A basic phone or a shared family device with parental controls is a good first step.

Is Google Family Link free?

Yes. Family Link is a free app from Google for Android devices. You install it on your phone and link it to your child's Google account.

What is 1930?

1930 is India's national cybercrime helpline, run under the Ministry of Home Affairs, mainly for reporting financial cyber fraud. Call as soon as possible after a fraud, because quick reporting improves the chance of blocking the money. You can also file a complaint online at cybercrime.gov.in.

Should I read my child's messages?

For young children, regular supervision is reasonable. For teenagers, secret monitoring can damage trust. A better approach is open conversation, clear rules, and checking together when there is a specific concern.

My child already spends many hours on the phone. How do I reduce it?

Reduce gradually rather than all at once. Agree on new limits together, set them in Family Link, offer alternatives like outdoor play or hobbies, and keep phones out of the bedroom at night.