India is home to the largest population of youth in the world - millions of school-going children and teenagers who are growing up with smartphones, YouTube, Instagram, and online influencers as their daily companions. While social media offers immense opportunities to learn and connect, many young users are unknowingly exposed to misleading ads, toxic beauty standards, cyberbullying, financial scams, and even online grooming. Without the tools to think critically or safely navigate digital platforms, these children become vulnerable digital consumers often suffering in silence.

If we continue to ignore this growing digital vulnerability, we risk raising a generation that is digitally active but emotionally unprotected. Cases like the Blue Whale Challenge, increasing incidents of youth suicides linked to online pressure, and widespread exposure to unregulated influencer content show the alarming gap in awareness. But if we act now and introduce Digital and Social Media Literacy as a mandatory part of the school curriculum, we can empower students to be informed, safe, and responsible digital citizens. This is not just a matter of education it’s a matter of mental health, safety, and justice.

Social media isn't going away - it’s only becoming more powerful and more embedded in young lives. The longer we wait, the more young minds we lose to anxiety, manipulation, and misinformation. As a law student and intern at Consumers India, I’ve witnessed how seriously youth are impacted and how deeply unprepared our systems are to protect them. This is our chance to turn awareness into action. By signing this petition, you’re demanding a safer digital future for the next generation because every child deserves not just internet access, but the knowledge to use it wisely.