The finding places platform design and content delivery systems at the centre of the youth safety debate. When harmful material reaches young users passively, risk management shifts away from individual choice and toward the architecture of recommendation systems, default settings, and moderation controls. The report’s focus on passive exposure suggests a need for policy frameworks that evaluate not just what content exists online, but how it is distributed to young people who did not request it.
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Storyboard15-01-2026, 14:14

Youth Digital Wellbeing: 28% Young Indians Exposed to Unsolicited Violent/Sexual Content

  • A report by The Quantum Hub (TQH) and YLAC reveals 27.9% of young Indians encounter violent or sexual content online without searching for it.
  • This passive exposure is driven by algorithmic recommendations, shared content, browsing, and unsolicited messages, highlighting policy challenges.
  • Exposure peaks in mid-adolescence (14-16 years) at 24.6%, declining in older age groups, with vicarious exposure following a similar trend.
  • A significant urban-rural gap exists, with metro residents reporting 36.7% exposure, over 2.5 times higher than rural areas (14.3%).
  • The report advocates for comprehensive regulatory frameworks addressing all online risks, not just content moderation, focusing on platform design.

Why It Matters: Nearly 28% of young Indians are exposed to unsolicited violent or sexual content online, primarily due to algorithmic recommendations.

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