Our Founder shares insights from a recent event
I participated in a well curated Listening Roundtable hosted by Snap Inc. in partnership with Young Leaders for Active Citizenship in Mumbai. The discussion focused on how teenagers use social media, their consumption patterns, safety frameworks, reporting mechanisms, and concrete steps to strengthen digital safeguards. The curation was thoughtful and deliberate, bringing together experts from education, mental health, child rights, technology, and digital policy.
There was a clear openness to meaningful dialogue. Stakeholders from diverse backgrounds engaged with sincerity, listened carefully to concerns, and demonstrated a firm intent to strengthen safety practices. The presence of teenagers added essential perspective. Their clarity and candour grounded the conversation in real lived experiences, reinforcing the urgency of building systems that genuinely work for young users.
I was assigned the table on When Digital Connections Hurt. This subject sits at the core of our work at the Akancha Srivastava Foundation, where we have trained millions across the country on cyber safety, digital resilience, and harm prevention. Our experience of working closely with law enforcement across India and handling case studies first hand strengthens our understanding of how these harms unfold in real scenarios and what robust interventions are required. Our discussion covered sexting, child grooming, cyber bullying, transparency in reporting processes, and the operational accountability needed to ensure that young people receive timely and effective support when they reach out for help.
A platform with the reach and influence of Snapchat is positioned to set powerful benchmarks for youth safety. With the right design interventions, it can educate users at scale and even cultivate digital heroes within its community who champion responsible behaviour, call out harm, and strengthen a culture of awareness. This potential was evident in the constructive spirit with which the company hosted the roundtable.
Such engagements signal a positive shift toward collaborative safety building. I appreciate the seriousness with which the dialogue was held and look forward to many more forums that bring together young people, experts, and platforms to advance the shared mission of creating safer digital spaces across the country.