By CIO Insider Team
 

Google India and YouTube have partnered with experts from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Fortis Healthcare, and parenting advocates to launch the Digital Wellbeing Guidebook for Indian families.

The initiative aims to help parents and children build healthier digital habits together by promoting balanced and responsible technology use.

Developed with contributions from specialists in mental health, education, and child development, the guidebook moves beyond conventional screen-time limits. Instead, it offers practical, research-backed strategies that encourage families to develop sustainable digital routines through collaboration rather than restriction.

As internet access continues to expand across India, the online world has become an essential platform for young people to learn, create, connect, and explore new opportunities.

Recognizing this shift, Google India and YouTube said the guidebook is part of Google's long-term global commitment to online safety, while being specifically tailored to the unique needs and dynamics of Indian households.

The resource translates behavioral science into simple, everyday parenting practices that families can easily adopt. It encourages parents and children to engage with technology together instead of treating it solely as something to monitor or control.

Among its recommendations are creating family media agreements, setting up tech-free zones at home, and encouraging regular conversations about healthy online behavior.

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The guidebook also addresses the realities of Indian households, where multiple family members often share a single smartphone or tablet.

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To support safe shared device usage, it recommends practical features such as YouTube's "Who's Watching" profile switcher, enabling children to access age-appropriate content while maintaining privacy for adult users.

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By combining expert guidance with easy-to-follow recommendations, the Digital Wellbeing Guidebook seeks to help Indian families foster healthier relationships with technology and create a safer, more balanced digital environment for children and adults alike.