Cyberbullying in India: How Schools, Laws, and Social Media Are Failing Teenagers

“I felt completely helpless as a parent,” says Mrunal (name changed), recalling the day in 2020 when her son attempted to take his life after months of online abuse. The incident took place during the COVID-19 lockdown, a period that gave her and her family a closer view of Adarsh’s (name changed) daily struggles. “When I saw the messages, I couldn’t believe what my child had been experiencing.”

In the weeks that followed, the family found themselves without guidance or support. There was no clear system to report the harassment or seek redress. It was only after they found a therapist that Adarsh began to recover. Mrunal also sought therapy to process what had happened. As he recovered, Adarsh launched a podcast—not as a victim, Mrunal says, but as someone who had lived through it. “When he shared his story, others began to share theirs. The response was overwhelming.”

Mrunal nearly lost her son in 2020. Five years later, the threat of online harassment remains unresolved. On July 9, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a directive to colleges and universities across India, urging them to monitor informal WhatsApp groups created by students. “In several cases, seniors form informal WhatsApp groups, contact juniors, and subject them to mental harassment,” the circular stated. It warned that such actions constituted ragging and would invite disciplinary measures. Institutions that fail to enforce anti-ragging norms could face penalties, including withdrawal of grants.

The directive points to a wider concern: the vulnerability of young people in online spaces. According to a study by the US-based National Institutes of Health, over a third of Indian children under the age of 18 report being targets of internet harassment. A recent report from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) noted that nearly 30 per cent of teenagers show signs of social media “dependence”, often accompanied by anxiety, low self-esteem, or mood disorders.

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Psychologists working with adolescents say the problem is structural, not just behavioural. “Young people often depend on the validation they receive online,” says Mini Rao, a Chennai-based psychologist. But abrupt withdrawal from these platforms, she warns, can worsen distress. “In my experience, they go through withdrawal when denied access to social media.”

Cyberpsychologist Nirali Bhatia notes that social media has shifted the centre of emotional regulation. “Our internal sense of control has been replaced by a need for external affirmation. We now live in a world that revolves around instant feedback.”

A 2023 study by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) found that teenagers spend upwards of two to three hours a day on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. According to Rao, the harm extends beyond direct abuse. Negative comments and low engagement on posts often leave users feeling diminished. A 2022 survey by the Indian Council of Social Science Research supports this. More than 60 per cent of teens said they often compare themselves to influencers and peers, and end up feeling “inadequate”.

The role of parents and schools

For Rao, the first step is honest communication between parents and children. She says children need safe spaces—not just at home, but also in schools and among friends—where they can speak openly about harassment. Bhatia adds that no meaningful progress is possible without collective effort.

Parents, Rao cautions, should avoid punitive measures such as confiscating devices. “They see it as an act of disrespect,” she says. “I’ve worked with a girl who attempted suicide after her mother took away her phone.” Manasi Chaudhari, a lawyer who has advised students facing cyberbullying, says that schools must take the lead through curricular interventions, workshops, and awareness sessions. While rules imposed from above have their place, she finds peer-to-peer strategies more effective. “Students are more likely to confide in one another than approach parents or teachers.”

Some States are already experimenting with school-level responses. In Telangana, the Women Safety Wing of the State police launched the Cyber Ambassadors Platform in January 2023. Under the programme, students and educators are trained as “cyber safety officers” and tasked with spreading awareness among their peers and local communities. The training covers cyberbullying, digital hygiene, and safe online practices.

Policy and legislation

While school-level efforts are growing, Chaudhari argues that change cannot be sustained without clear laws. She points to existing provisions under the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. However, none of these laws address cyberbullying as a distinct offence. The IT Act, she says, belongs to an earlier technological era and offers little to victims today. “Often, lawyers are forced to stretch the law to fit the case,” she adds.

Bhatia says that police officers often struggle to file cases correctly. “There is no clarity on what counts as cybercrime. Trolling, bullying, harassment—these terms don’t have precise legal definitions. That confusion is a major hurdle.” She adds that many parents are reluctant to approach law enforcement, either because they fear escalation or believe no action will be taken.

Advocate Prithwish Ganguli points to the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India as a turning point. The judgement struck down Section 66A of the IT Act, which criminalised “offensive” messages online. “The Court upheld free expression while affirming the need to regulate online abuse. But the ruling also highlighted how poorly defined these offences are.”

Ganguli sees the UGC’s latest directive as well-intentioned, but limited. “It’s not easy for institutions to monitor private WhatsApp groups without crossing legal boundaries. Surveillance is not the answer,” he says. Instead, he recommends systems that emphasise prevention and response, rather than monitoring.

Private schools, he adds, can serve as testing grounds for new approaches. In March 2024, The Hindu reported that several high-profile schools in Bengaluru had introduced year-round workshops on digital safety. These sessions included training on recognising harmful behaviour, using parental controls, and reporting systems that allow students to remain anonymous. On World Mental Health Day last year, the Ministry of Education hosted a national online workshop for school students, combining mental health awareness with digital literacy.

International responses

Popular television shows like Adolescence and Defending Jacob have brought the issue into mainstream conversation. But the concern is global, not just cultural. In 2024, the Australian government passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, barring children under 16 from using platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, and X.

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Other countries are taking similar steps. France now requires parental consent for users under 15. Spain has announced plans to raise the minimum age for social media access to 16. Singapore has introduced a national online safety commission. Greece has given parents the right to verify a child’s age and set screen time limits. In the UK, peer-led anti-bullying programmes have become embedded in school life. Ganguli recommends adopting these preventive models in India. “What matters is early intervention, not reactive punishment.”

Despite efforts in some parts of India, much remains to be done. Bhatia argues for stronger regulation of service providers. “We keep talking about screen time, distraction, and academic decline. But the issue is much deeper—it’s about how platforms are designed and who is held responsible for the harm they cause.”

Mrunal agrees. “This is not just about distractions or inappropriate content,” she says. “It’s about protecting our children. It’s about the future we’re building for them.”