Russia Begins Testing a Digital Safety Index for Children

A new national project aims to measure the well-being of teenagers online, assessing both the risks they face and the support systems available to them.

This fall, Russia will begin testing its Digital Safety Index for Children, a project designed to measure the real well-being of teenagers in the online environment. The research will examine what risks kids encounter on the internet, how they cope with them, and where they most need additional support. Students, parents, and teachers will all participate, allowing researchers to validate the methodology and compile an objective picture.

According to the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment, the methodology accounts not only for threats, but also for the opportunities the internet provides. It considers external factors as well as the internal state of adolescents—their emotional resilience, willingness to seek help, and sense of security.

The index demonstrates how effectively schools, parents, the government, and digital platforms are working together to keep children safe.

For different stakeholders, the tool offers unique benefits. Educational institutions can assess how well their programs prepare teens for life in the digital world. Parents will be able to see where their child needs additional support. IT companies will receive feedback on how their products impact young audiences.