GUWAHATI: A new nationwide survey says nearly 60% of young Indians feel bad effects on their emotions after staying online for a long time. The study, called SCREEN (Student Cyber Resilience, Education, and Empowerment Nationwide), included 4,000 young people aged 11 to 30, mostly from poor communities. The results were shared on January 14, 2026, at the Youth in the Loop Summit in New Delhi. The study challenges the usual idea that online dangers come mostly from strangers. It found that 37.9% of young people had unwanted contact from people they already know, like friends or classmates. Only 23.4% had such contact from strangers. Among 17-18-year-olds, the problem was worse, with 53.1% saying they had unwanted contact from known individuals. The survey also shows big gaps in digital access. While 77.9% had smartphones at home, only 36.5% of rural youth had computers or laptops, compared to 72.5% in cities. This wide gap affects their education and job chances. Digital skills are low too; only 37.1% said they could use online reporting tools well. One in five did not even know such tools exist. Younger kids and rural youth struggled the most. Negative feelings linked to being online are common. 60% said they felt anxious, overwhelmed, tired, or mentally drained. About one in four felt guilty about their time online. Girls noticed more negative social comparisons, while boys showed more gaming addiction and regret over shared content. Sleep problems were seen equally in both. When facing online problems, 32.8% turned to friends, 30.2% to parents, but 14.5% told no one. Some (6.4%) are starting to use AI chatbots for help. Young people want better internet speed (38.2%) and stronger action on gaming issues, cybercrime, bullying, and content control. Aprajita Bharti, YLAC co-founder, said, "The findings show that young people are not asking to be excluded from the internet; they are asking for safer, fairer and more transparent digital spaces." The summit ended with a call to focus on young people’s needs and to design online safety policies reflecting their real experiences.