Mumbai | April 23, 2025 : India confronts the growing dangers of
unregulated digital exposure among children and as concerns around the safety
and well-being of children in the digital world intensify, the non-profit
organization ZEP Foundation —World Digital Detox Day, under the leadership of
renowned digital wellness advocate Dr. Rekha Chaudhari, is taking bold steps to
champion a safer, healthier digital future for India’s children to protect the
mental and emotional well-being of young users in online spaces.
“The
growing dependency on digital platforms has left our children vulnerable to
psychological stress, cyberbullying, and addictive behaviours,” said Dr. Rekha
Chaudhari, Founder of World Digital Detox Day and ZEP Foundation NGO. “This is not just about screen time—it’s about
mental health, identity formation, and the very fabric of childhood.
Enforceable age verification standards are essential to creating a protective
digital ecosystem.”
In a historic move, ZEP Foundation NGO is using
the legal route to call attention to the urgent need for statutory safeguards
for minors navigating the digital ecosystem. At the heart of this initiative is
a clarion call for the implementation of enforceable, technology-driven age
verification protocols and a legal framework to prohibit children under 16 or
18 years from accessing social media platforms.
This legal step is driven by alarming trends:
rising rates of cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, addictive
scrolling behaviour, and increasing reports of mental health disorders among
children linked to excessive screen time. ZEP Foundation NGO has identified
gaping loopholes in the Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules 2023,
particularly, the reliance on ineffective and easily bypassed, self-declared
age checks on digital platforms. The organization has recommended
technology-driven, enforceable mechanisms for age verification measures to
shield children from digital harm.
Dr. Rekha Chaudhari, Founder of ZEP Foundation
(Non-profit organization) —World Digital Detox Day, emphasised “We are not against technology—we are advocating
for its mindful use. Children deserve a safe and nurturing digital environment,
free from manipulation and mental health risks. This development marks a much
needed recognition of the digital wellness movement in India and brings to the
forefront the collective responsibility of parents, educators, platforms, and
policymakers to prioritise child safety in the digital age. It brings us closer
to a future where digital wellness is not optional, but a fundamental right of
every child.”
Dr. Rekha further added that, “The objective was to initiate a legally binding framework for
smartphone-free childhoods enforced
through age-gating and data protection mechanisms. It aims to hold digital
platforms accountable and empower parents, educators, and policymakers with
tools to protect vulnerable minds from the addictive and often harmful nature
of online content.”
With the Supreme Court’s recognition, ZEP
Foundation NGO has been granted the right to present its proposals to the
government and concerned regulatory authorities. It is making a detailed
representation regarding its policy recommendations, effectively setting the
stage for possible regulatory reform. Recognizing the seriousness of the
subject matter, the Supreme Court has acknowledged the need for urgent policy
intervention to safeguard children in digital spaces, and the Court further
emphasized that the representation must be considered and responded to within a
two-month period, thereby ensuring a time-bound policy review process.
ZEP Foundation, as a nonprofit organization, is
now preparing a comprehensive policy paper and representation to be submitted
to the Ministries of Electronics and IT, Women and Child Development,
Education, and Health. The Foundation is also seeking consultations with child
rights organizations, digital safety experts, educators, and legal scholars to
strengthen the recommendations.
This development marks a significant milestone
in India’s digital wellness movement and underscores the transformative role
civil society can play in shaping responsible digital policies. As digital
usage among children soars, this initiative aims to become the cornerstone of a
national conversation around tech regulation, mental health, and child rights
in the digital age.
Founded by Dr. Rekha Chaudhari, World Digital
Detox Day is a 16-year-old movement active across 72 countries. It promotes
digital fasting, wellness education, and screen-life balance for individuals
and families worldwide. Its mission remains rooted in fostering healthier
relationships with technology, especially for the next generation.
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