Pratigyan Das
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court recently recognised access to internet as a fundamental right. The judgment, which came during the hearing of ‘Just Rights for Children Alliance vs S Harish’, declared that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right of every individual under Article 21 making it clear that children, irrespective of their age, enjoy the same rights. The court rejected blanket restrictions on their internet access, despite acknowledging its dangers. It stressed that safeguards must target harmful content and those responsible for it, rather than penalising children by denying them access. But what does this constitutional guarantee mean for millions of children who still lack reliable connectivity, affordable devices or the opportunity to participate in the digital world? The internet, which began as ARPANET, a US research network in 1969, transformed the world’s communication system by connecting billions of people.
In India, VSNL made it popular as the public internet services, after it was launched August 15, 1995. Over the years, much like roti, kapda aur makaan(food, clothing and shelter), internet access has increasingly become a necessity for everyone, including children, thanks to the spread of smartphones, affordable mobile data and the expansion of digital data following a digital revolution after 2016. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that our connection with the digital world begins even before we are born. From the moment an expectant mother undergoes medical tests, technology becomes part of the unborn child’s world. And when the baby finally opens its eyes to the world, the moment is often captured with a click on a smartphone. It has become a gateway to opportunities that may otherwise remain beyond a child’s reach. Gone are the days when classrooms revolved around blackboards, chalk and dusters. The internet has transformed traditional classrooms into smart learning spaces powered by digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI).
Teachers are increasingly encouraging students to use AI to research topics, complete projects and homework, clarify concepts and explore ideas beyond textbooks. According to the National Statistics Office’s 2025 survey, 86.3% of Indian households had internet access. The proportion was 83.3% in rural India, compared with 91.6% in urban areas. While these figures indicate substantial progress, they also reveal that internet connectivity has not reached every household. The gap is stark when it comes to children. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 found that 89.1% of rural children aged 14–16 had a smartphone at home. However, only 65.9% could bring one to complete digital tasks. Just 31.4% of those who could use a smartphone reported owning one themselves.
Interestingly, smartphone ownership among these rural children stood at 36.2% for boys and 26.9% for girls. These figures reflect a distinction: the presence of a smartphone in a household does not automatically translate into meaningful access for a child. The Supreme Court’s ruling raises a larger question: how can a constitutional right be meaningfully exercised when access to the infrastructure, affordable connectivity and devices needed to enjoy it remain unequal? It also challenges states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, which have been considering restrictions on children’s screen time, to rethink their approach and balance digital access with protection. More importantly, the ruling is a wake-up call for parents. The growing tendency to turn children into social media content to attract likes, followers and revenue demands scrutiny. What seems like harmless fun can expose children to cyberbullying, online harass ment and misuse of their images. A child’s privacy and dignity must never become the price of digital popularity. The right to access the internet must go hand in hand with the right to be protected from its harm and that responsibility begins at home.
The writer is a journalist.
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