30th June 2025, Kathmandu
A groundbreaking report from ChildSafeNet has brought to light a critical issue in Nepal’s digital landscape: a staggering 85% of Nepali parents have never spoken to their children about online sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA).
Nepali Parents Never Discussed Online Sexual Abuse
The research, titled “Enhancing the Role of Parents to Ensure the Safety of Children from Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Nepal,” underscores an urgent need for increased parental awareness and digital literacy to protect children in the digital age.
Rising Online Risks for Nepali Children
As internet access and digital technology expand rapidly across Nepal, so do the online risks for children. Threats like online grooming, exposure to age-inappropriate content, and cyber threats are on the rise. However, the study reveals that parental supervision and communication on sensitive topics like CSEA are critically low.
Released by ChildSafeNet’s Founder and Chairperson, Anil Raghuvanshi, and the National Child Rights Council’s Member-Secretary Indra Devi Dhakal, the study was a mixed-method research supported by Safe Online and the Tech Coalition. It involved surveys with 900 parents, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, aiming to understand parental attitudes and challenges in ensuring online child safety.
Unsupervised Online Access is a Major Concern
Co-author Tulsa Khadka highlighted a significant finding: children are frequently accessing the internet and social media without any parental supervision. The report found that while 45% of children have their own mobile devices, 29% use their family members’ social media accounts—most often their mothers’—exposing them to a range of risks. This unsupervised access makes children vulnerable to online grooming and exposure to harmful content, including pornography and violence.
Low Digital Literacy and Discomfort Are Key Barriers
Lead researcher Anil Raghuvanshi noted that despite parental concerns about online risks, most parents lack the necessary digital literacy and tools to protect their children effectively. A key finding, as revealed by co-author Sulav Ratna Bajracharya, is that the primary reasons parents avoid discussing online CSEA with their children are discomfort, a lack of knowledge, a belief the topic is not age-appropriate, and a fear of “damaging their child’s innocence.”
The research also shed light on the unique vulnerability of queer and gender-diverse children, who often face abuse and discrimination within their own homes, making them even more susceptible to online dangers.
Missed Opportunities in Parental Control and Education
The report highlighted a significant gap in the use of digital safety tools:
73% of parents have never used parental control tools.
70% expressed a preference for in-person digital safety awareness programs led by experts.
31% showed interest in digital resources like mobile apps, videos, and websites.
These findings present a clear opportunity for organizations and the government to launch targeted digital parenting education campaigns and online safety initiatives across Nepal.
A Call for Open Communication and Education
During the report’s launch, experts like parenting educator Disu Bhandari Manandhar and pediatric surgeon Dr. Nrupesh Rajbhandari emphasized that building a safe online environment for children depends on open communication, trust, and continuous education. They stressed that parents are critical partners in building resilience and awareness in their children.
As a global investment initiative, Safe Online is committed to funding innovation and connecting stakeholders to create a safer digital world for children and youth.
The Tech Coalition is a global alliance of leading technology companies working to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse through technology and policy innovation.
For more: Nepali Parents Never Discussed Online Sexual Abuse