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- Google and YouTube launch Digital Wellbeing guidebook for Indian families
Google and YouTube launch Digital Wellbeing guidebook for Indian families
TOI Tech Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jul 21, 2026, 13:42 IST
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Google India and YouTube have launched a new Digital Wellbeing Guidebook for Indian Families to help parents and children build healthier digital habits. In a press release, the company said that the guidebook has been developed with mental health, education and child development experts and is designed for the unique needs of Indian households. The initiative also addresses challenges such as shared devices, online safety, digital payments and balancing studies with screen use, while encouraging parents to play an active role in their children’s digital lives. The Digital Wellbeing Guidebook for Indian Families is available as a free download for parents and educators.According to Google India and YouTube, the guidebook is based on the company’s global approach to online safety but has been tailored for Indian families. “As a parent of four myself, I know these conversations at the dinner table are never easy,” said Dr Garth Graham, Global Head of Healthcare and Public Health at YouTube. “But just like teaching a child how to swim, our goal as parents isn’t to keep them on dry land forever. It is to stand with them in the shallow end, build their confidence, and teach them how to navigate the digital world safely.”
Experts advise parents to work with children
The guidebook was created with input from psychologists, educators and child development experts.”Tech conflicts in Indian homes usually start with sudden, abrupt rules like parents abruptly shutting off the Wi-Fi or snatching devices away without warning,” said Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the SHUT Clinic (Service for Healthy Use of Technology), NIMHANS. “Instead of forcing sudden restrictions that make children feel misunderstood and isolated, parents need a collaborative playbook to build boundaries together.”The guide also recommends shared viewing and regular discussions between parents and children about what they watch online.”Shared viewing is the way forward. Families need to eat together and watch together. I strongly believe in a regular ‘debriefing’ approach to viewing, using open-ended conversations to ask what they liked, what they didn’t, or if they saw anything that made them feel uncomfortable,” said Dr Samir Parikh, Chairperson, Mental Health Program, Fortis Healthcare and Adayu Mindfulness.The guidebook addresses challenges that are common in Indian homes, including balancing online learning with studies, using shared smartphones and tablets safely, and helping young people avoid online financial scams.It also highlights tools such as YouTube’s “Who’s Watching” profile switcher, supervised digital pocket money through UPI and Google’s Circle to Search feature.Actor and author Soha Ali Khan said parents should lead by example when it comes to screen use.”One thing parenthood has made me far more conscious of is my own relationship with technology. Children notice what we do long before they listen to what we say. They do not distinguish between a work message and an unnecessary scroll. They simply see that a screen has our attention. That is why, in our home, we have become more intentional about putting our phones away during meals or family time. Those small moments quietly show a child that technology has a place in our lives, but it should not take over them.”Actor and parenting advocate Neha Dhupia added, “I have realized that simply snatching devices away doesn’t teach children how to make good choices. What actually works is showing them that technology has its place to help them learn or discover a hobby, but it should never replace real family time or face-to-face conversations.”Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.
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