Webbed: Exploring Online to Offline Child Safety in Karnali and Madhesh Provinces of Nepal

This study employed a concurrent mixed-method exploratory design, utilizing various data collection techniques, including surveys, in-depth key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and case studies as primary data sources. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were employed simultaneously, assigning equal importance to each for enhancing and complementing information. Additionally, relevant literature and policies were reviewed. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 402 children aged 9 to 17 years, while data from school teachers, head teachers, elected local representatives, CSOs, members of judicial committees, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were gathered through KIIs and FGDs. The study was conducted in two districts of Karnali Province—Surkhet and Dailekh, three districts of Madhesh Province – Saptari, Sarlahi and Mahottari, and in Kathmandu for national policies and mechanisms.

Children showed high levels of awareness of the risks online and how to protect themselves. Sixty-Six percent of children had knowledge of cyberbullying, while 57 percent said they knew how to use digital platforms safely. Majority of the children (83%) reported using mobile phones and the internet for educational purposes, with 40 percent gathering information in the areas of their interest and 21 percent using devices to play online games. Thirty-five percent of children reported making new friends online, almost three-fourth children made new friends online to garner views, likes, or comments on their social media posts. Among 35 percent of children who made online friends, 17 percent (13 percent boys and 21 percent girls) reported that they were forced to meet offline by their online friends. Moreover, 9 percent of children reported connecting with strangers online and meeting them offline. Regarding children’s experience of meeting offline, 8 percent children reported encountering an uncomfortable situation.