Introduction Nepal's rapid digitalization has transformed children's access to the internet, creating both educational opportunities and safety concerns. Between 2022-2023 to 2023-2024, the Cyber Bureau recorded a 260.8% rise in cyber violence involving children, highlighting the urgent need for more effective protection systems. Children’s insights are key to building such strong and just institutions that address issues affecting them. Recently published child-led research in Nepal, conducted by a team of researchers aged 11-17, revealed authentic insights into social media use, online risks, coping strategies, and the effectiveness of current digital safety measures. The findings highlight the significant digital trends, concerns, and behavioral patterns among children and parents in Nepal that provide a basis for designing solution strategies to protect and empower children online. Addressing these gaps can ensure safety and well-being, inclusion, justice, strong systems, and strategic partnerships to catalyze change, collectively promoting sustainable development. Analysis This participative research was initiated under the Safety for Children and their Rights OnLine (SCROL) project in Nepal led by Terre des Hommes Netherlands in partnership with the Center for Legal Research and Resource Development (CeLRRD), Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN), and Women Youth in Social Service Human Rights (WYESHR). The research was conducted in the Gandaki and Bagmati provinces in 2024 by 162 children through voluntary participation and a simple random sampling method. A total of 443 children and 213 parents responded to a questionnaire designed by children. The following findings, based on children’s insights, highlight critical trends in online experiences that have the potential to shape effective solutions. Social media usage patterns: According to the survey results, Facebook emerged as the dominant social media platform, with 42% of respondents indicating it as their primary choice for online engagement. YouTube is the second most popular platform, capturing 26% of user preferences, while Instagram maintains a significant presence, with 14% of users favoring it as their main social platform. Response to online negativity: The data reveals essential insights into youth coping mechanisms when encountering harmful online content. A plurality of young users (31.6%) prioritize peer support by confiding in friends, while a slightly smaller proportion (27.5%) choose to discuss these issues with their parents. Notably, a concerning 20% of respondents internalize these experiences by keeping them private. This isolation can increase the risk of revictimization and lead to mental health issues among children, highlighting potential areas for intervention. Digital safety practices: Most users (78.6%) demonstrate awareness of basic online safety measures by consistently declining friendship requests from unknown individuals on Facebook, indicating a strong foundation of protective behaviors. Social media perception: The survey reveals a notable division in attitudes toward social media engagement. Nearly half (49.2%) of respondents express caution by discouraging peers from joining social platforms, while 40.2% maintain a positive outlook and actively encourage participation. Mental health impact: The research identifies that approximately one in six respondents (17%) acknowledge experiencing psychological distress related to their online activities, highlighting the importance of mental health support in digital spaces. Digital account security: Most users (90.7%) demonstrate strong ethical digital practices by maintaining strict account security, specifically avoiding trading or sharing their online and gaming accounts. Parental oversight acceptance: The data shows that slightly more than half of young users (53%) have a positive attitude toward parental monitoring and established online boundaries, suggesting a balanced approach to digital supervision. "Monitoring and setting boundaries are good—they protect us from OCSE. However, they [parents] shouldn't interfere with our studies, privacy, or personal life." - Rima (name changed) Parental control approaches: Regarding social media access, most parents (61%) opt for an open approach with unrestricted usage, while approximately one-quarter (26.5%) implement complete restrictions, revealing diverse parenting strategies in digital supervision. Parent-child digital dynamics: The survey indicates that approximately half of the children (50.7%) feel comfortable using their devices in their parents' presence, suggesting a relatively balanced level of trust and openness in digital behavior. Child protection awareness: A significant finding reveals that more than half of parents (55%) lack knowledge about available reporting mechanisms for Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE), indicating a crucial gap in child safety awareness. Parental acceptance of children's display of alternative gender and sexual identity online: Parental acceptance of their children's alternative gender and sexual identity, such as LGBTQ+, discovered through social media use varies across Nepal's regions. The Bagmati region shows higher acceptance (53.91%) than Gandaki (24.10%), with combined acceptance at 42.18%. Resistance is higher in Gandaki (45.78%) than in Bagmati (29.69%), showing more progressive thinking in Bagmati. The remaining parents are uncertain (21.33%) or would seek specialist help (0.47%). Implications Children are uniquely positioned to understand their concerns. Integrating their voices in decision-making is critical. Child-led research interventions can empower children to strengthen their agency and enable an understanding that can facilitate effective systemic changes. The key areas that require attention and action are: Provision of mental health and psychosocial care for children impacted by exploitation online. Creation of more peer support groups for children to find safe spaces to discuss online activity. Parental sensitization and awareness of online child sexual exploitation as well as facilitating open communication between parents and children. Building more child- and user-friendly reporting mechanisms. Identification of vulnerable groups of children to ensure their inclusion in solution strategies. Resources B. Zulfiqar et al. 2024. Youth Advocacy Can Accomplish Child Rights in South Asia. Devex. 10 December. Terre des Hommes Netherlands. Baseline Factsheet – Online Trends in Nepal. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. 2022. Children-Related SDG Indicators. Ask the Experts Neeta Shrestha Project Officer, Nepal Country Office, Terre des Hommes Netherlands Neeta Shrestha is a development professional with more than 10 years of experience in project management focused on child well-being in Nepal. As a project officer at Terre des Hommes Netherlands, she oversees projects addressing online child sexual exploitation in Nepal. Follow Neeta Shrestha on Thangaperumal Ponpandi Country Director, Nepal, Terre des Hommes Netherlands Thangaperumal Ponpandi actively advocates for child rights in South Asia, representing children’s voices at various regional forums. With more than two decades of experience in the development sector, his expertise includes lobbying, advocacy, project design, and management. He is the country director of Nepal at Terre des Hommes Netherlands, overseeing all country operations. Follow Thangaperumal Ponpandi on Terre des Hommes Netherlands Terre des Hommes Netherlands is a global child rights organization with a vision to ensure children flourish in a world free of all forms of exploitation. The organization works in Asia, Africa, and Europe, tackling the worst forms of child labor and child sexual and other exploitations in humanitarian settings. Together with its implementing partners, Terre des Hommes works to catalyze systemic change by placing children at the center. Follow Terre des Hommes Netherlands on Leave your question or comment in the section below: View the discussion thread.