India has emerged as the global leader in Gen Z digital well-being, according to Snap Inc.’s fourth edition of the Digital Well-Being Index (DWBI), released on Safer Internet Day.

India leads the index with a score of 69, followed by the US (67), UK (64), Australia (63), Germany (61), and France (60).

The annual report tracks the psychological and online experiences of teens and young adults aged 13 to 24 across six countries, positioning India at the forefront of global digital resilience.

The index, which assesses young people’s online lives through emotional, social, and behavioural indicators, highlights India’s distinctive 'Parental Shield' as a key factor behind its performance.

Strong family involvement and community support continue to play a central role in helping young users navigate digital risks.

A major contributor to India’s strong showing is its culture of openness and help-seeking.

Young users demonstrate a willingness to reach out to parents, teachers, and mentors when facing challenges, supported by wide personal networks and trusted relationships.

The study also points to consistently high levels of parental engagement. Indian parents are more likely than their global peers to stay involved in their children’s digital lives, combining regular monitoring with high levels of mutual trust.

At the same time, the report flags serious online risks, including exposure to harmful content, misinformation, and online exploitation. This creates what the study describes as a 'high risk, higher resilience' paradox, where strong support systems help young users cope despite persistent threats.

Even in this environment, Indian youth continue to report largely positive digital experiences, with many demonstrating strong emotional and social well-being online.

The DWBI is based on the PERNA framework, which measures Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Negative Emotion, and Achievement.

The 2026 findings draw on an online survey of more than 9,000 respondents across India, the US, UK, Australia, Germany, and France.

As visual-first digital natives, Indian Gen Z continues to lead in online engagement. The report positions India’s community-led, trust-based approach as a potential blueprint for strengthening digital safety and well-being worldwide.

Other key highlights of the report:

• 77% of young Indians seek help after online challenges, rising to 81% among teens aged 13–17.
• 69% of Indian parents regularly monitor digital activity, while 62% express high trust in their children.
• 79% report exposure to personal risk, and 69% report sextortion attempts.
• 76% of Indian Gen Z fall into the ‘Flourishing’ and ‘Thriving’ well-being categories.
• The study is based on responses from over 9,000 participants using the PERNA framework.

Uthara Ganesh, head of public policy,  APAC, Snap Inc., said, “India’s performance in the Digital Well-Being Index underscores the vital role parents and caregivers play in shaping healthier online experiences. The ecosystem-wide research shows that active involvement, checking in, listening, and staying engaged help teens better navigate online risks and recover from more challenging experiences. 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.”