India has topped Snap Inc.’s latest Digital Well-Being Index (DWBI), emerging as the highest-scoring country in a six-nation study tracking how young people experience life online.

Released on Safer Internet Day, the fourth edition of the annual index surveyed more than 9,000 teenagers and young adults across India, the US, the UK, Australia, Germany and France. India scored 69 out of 100, ahead of the US at 67, the UK at 64, Australia at 63, Germany at 61 and France at 60. It is the highest score recorded since the study began.

The findings suggest that while Indian Gen Z faces growing digital risks, strong family involvement and community support play a central role in shaping healthier online behaviour. India’s score rose by two points compared with last year, which researchers associate with what the report terms a “parental shield” or regular engagement between parents and teenagers around online activity.

According to the data, young Indians are significantly more likely to seek help after facing online challenges. Seventy-seven per cent reported reaching out for support, compared with 59 per cent in Germany and 58 per cent in the US. Among teenagers aged 13 to 17, the figure climbed to 81 per cent, well above their peers in the US and UK.

The survey also found that Indian youth reported broader support networks than those in other countries. More than a third said they had between nine and 12 trusted “support assets” such as parents, teachers and mentors — the highest proportion across all six markets.

Parental involvement stood out as a defining factor. Nearly seven in 10 Indian parents regularly check in on their children’s digital lives, compared with just over half in the US and fewer than half in Germany. Trust levels were also higher, with 62 per cent of Indian parents expressing confidence in their teens’ ability to navigate the Internet responsibly, up slightly from last year.

Commenting on the results, Uthara Ganesh, head of public policy for APAC at Snap Inc., said the report "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".

However, the study also highlights a sharp contradiction. India’s high well-being score exists alongside widespread exposure to online harm.

Seventy-nine per cent of respondents reported facing personal online risks, while 66 per cent encountered misinformation — both figures higher than last year. More troubling were reports around exploitation, with 69 per cent saying they had been targeted for sextortion and 61 per cent experiencing online grooming. Over half of those affected were minors.

Despite these threats, Indian respondents were more likely to fall into positive well-being categories. Seventy-six per cent were classified as either “thriving” or “flourishing” in their digital lives, compared with 68 per cent in the US and 58 per cent in the UK. Researchers define thriving as very positive overall online experiences, while flourishing reflects consistently positive interactions and emotional outcomes.

The index is built around the PERNA framework, which measures positive emotion, engagement, relationships, negative emotion and achievement to assess how young people feel and function in digital spaces.

Researchers argue that India’s results point less to a safer internet environment and more to stronger coping systems. Family involvement, open communication and broader social support appear to buffer the impact of online harm.

As Indian Gen Z continues to rank among the world’s most digitally engaged populations, the study suggests that community-driven approaches — centred on trust and dialogue rather than surveillance alone — may offer lessons for improving online safety globally.