Navigating the Digital Nurturing: Challenges and Opportunities for Child Development in Indian Context

Abstract

Digitalization has revolutionized the individuals, businesses, governments, societies and economies to the great extent. Smartphone technology, 5G network, affordable data plans, digital infrastructure created favourable conditions for internet users in India. There were 954 million internet subscribers in March 2024 in India (PIB, Govt. of India, 2024). The rapid proliferation of digital technology has reshaped parenting practices globally, with significant implications for child development. In the Indian context, where cultural norms and values intertwine with modern technology, the concept of “digital nurturing” presents both challenges and opportunities. This study aims to analyze the role of digital parenting in shaping cognitive, emotional, and social development among Indian children. The study is empirical in nature. The author has administered the structured questionnaire through five-point Likert scale to collect primary data for the parents as the target respondents from Chandigarh. The sample random sampling technique was used to justify the equal representation of target population. The survey method used for 178 sample size. The descriptive analysis and inferential statistics (Chi-squre/ T-Tests) considered for the study. The findings revealed that unlimited information, excessive screen time, high content consumption, digital stress pose major risks while digital literacy, learning new skills can benefit children. The study advocates parental guidance, policy interventions, regulatory frameworks, content moderation to promote psychological and social well-being of children.