Household smartphone access among youngsters reaches 77.9%, but online risks persist: Survey
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Household-level access to smartphones among young people in India has reached 77.9%, with minimal gender disparity, according to a new nationwide survey. Smartphone access, including shared use within households, stands at 80.5% for females and 76.7% for males, indicating that smartphones have become an integral part of daily life for most young households.
The findings are based on the SCREEN survey, launched at the Youth in the Loop Summit 2026 by Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) and The Quantum Hub (TQH). The survey covered nearly 4,000 respondents aged between 11 and 30 years, the majority of whom come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
“The SCREEN findings make it clear that young people are not asking to be excluded from the internet; they are asking for safer, fairer, and more transparent digital spaces,” Aprajita Bharti, Co-founder at Young Leaders for Active Citizenship, said.
Many respondents faced unwanted online contact
Despite widespread smartphone access, the survey showed that online safety and awareness have not kept pace. Nearly 38% of respondents said they had faced unwanted online contact from people they already know, such as friends, classmates or acquaintances. This was higher than reports of unwanted contact from strangers, challenging the common perception that online risks largely originate from unknown users.
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The risk was most pronounced among respondents aged 17 to 18, with more than half reporting unwanted contact from known individuals. The survey also shows that such experiences cut across gender lines, with boys and girls reporting similar levels of bullying and uncomfortable online interactions.
The data highlights a sharp digital divide beyond smartphones. Access to computers or laptops is much higher in cities, with 72.5% of metro households having one, compared to only 36.5% in rural areas. This gap affects learning, digital skills, and future job opportunities.
Users lack ability to protect themselves online
Many young users also lack ability to protect themselves online. Only 37.1% of respondents said they know how to properly use content reporting and moderation tools while one in five were not aware that such tools exist. Awareness was particularly low among rural users and children in the 11–13 age group.
Extended time spent online is also taking an emotional toll. About 60% of young people said they feel anxious, tired, irritated or guilty after prolonged online sessions. One in four reported feeling overwhelmed or experiencing fear of missing out while a similar number said they often feel mentally exhausted.
“Policy conversations must reflect how the internet is actually experienced by young users, and the SCREEN survey aims to uncover their online experiences. Young people often act as CTOs (chief technical officers) of their households, especially in low-income communities and rural areas; therefore, their agency and safety both need to be balanced,” Bharti said.