India tops Snapchat’s Digital Well-Being Index for fourth straight year

India has retained the top position in Snapchat’s Digital Well-Being Index (DWBI) for the fourth consecutive year, stressing the role of family-led support systems in shaping healthier online experiences for young people, even as exposure to digital risks rises.

The annual study by Snap Inc., which tracks the digital and psychological well-being of teens (13–17) and young adults (18–24) across six countries, placed India at 69 out of 100. This puts the country ahead of the United States (67), the United Kingdom (64), Australia (63), Germany (61), and France (60). India also posted a two-point improvement over its score last year, marking the highest reading recorded by any country since the index was launched.

The results point to a distinctive Indian advantage: while Gen Z users face a complex and often risky online environment, stronger parental engagement and community networks appear to be cushioning the impact. Snapchat describes this dynamic as a “parental shield,” reflecting higher levels of trust, regular check-ins, and open communication between parents and teens.

A culture of support

India’s support-seeking behaviour has also been highlighted. About 77% of young Indians said they reached out for help after encountering challenges online, higher than Germany (59%) and the US (58%). Among younger teens, the figure rises to 81%, placing India well ahead of Western peers.

Indian respondents also reported the highest number of “support assets”—trusted individuals such as parents, teachers, or mentors. Nearly 37% said they had between nine and 12 such support figures, indicating the importance of extended family and community structures in navigating digital stress.

Parents stay engaged

Parental involvement remains a key differentiator. Around 69% of Indian parents regularly check in on their teens’ digital activities, compared with 57% in the US and 46% in Germany. Trust levels are also inching up: 62% of Indian parents said they trust their children to use the internet responsibly, up from 60% in 2024 and well above levels seen in other markets.

“Active involvement, checking in, listening, and staying engaged help teens navigate online risks and recover from more challenging experiences,” said Uthara Ganesh, APAC head of public policy at Snap Inc., noting that parental support plays a central role in building confidence and resilience among highly connected youth.

High risk, higher resilience

The index also highlights a clear paradox. India’s leading well-being score does not stem from a safer internet environment. Exposure to personal risk (79%) and misinformation (66%) remains high and has increased year-on-year. Alarmingly, 69% of Gen Z respondents reported being targeted for sextortion, while 61% said they had experienced grooming, with minors accounting for more than half of those cases.

Yet, despite these risks, 76% of Indian respondents fall into the DWBI’s ‘Thriving’ or ‘Flourishing’ categories—up from 71% last year and well ahead of the US (68%) and the UK (58%). ‘Thriving’ reflects very positive overall online experiences, while ‘Flourishing’ signals extremely positive digital interactions.

Implications for platforms and policy

The DWBI is grounded in the PERNA framework—positive emotion, engagement, relationships, negative emotion, and achievement—and is based on an online survey of more than 9,000 respondents across the six countries.

For India, the findings suggest that family-led oversight and ongoing dialogue may offer a partial blueprint for improving digital well-being at scale. However, the sharp rise in exposure to serious online harms indicates that resilience alone may not be sufficient.

As India’s Gen Z—often described as “visual natives”—continues to deepen its digital engagement, the onus will increasingly fall on platforms, regulators, and parents to ensure that support systems evolve as quickly as the risks themselves.