Patterns of internet use, risky online behaviors, and protective practices among Indian adolescents: evidence from a school-based study

India has one of the largest adolescent populations and is experiencing rapid growth in internet access and digital platform use. School-based studies indicate that over 80% of students use social media. Despite benefits, increasing internet use exposes adolescents to cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and exposure to inappropriate content. However, empirical evidence on patterns of internet use and risky online behaviours among Indian adolescents remains limited. This study assessed internet use, risky online behaviour, and safety measures among school children. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 960 school children aged 10–16 years. Participants were selected using multistage proportionate random sampling from clusters in Kundapura Taluk. Data were collected using socio-demographic proforma, the Online Activity and Internet Use Scale (OnAIUS), and the Risky Online Behaviour and Safety Measures (ROBS) scale. Instrument reliability was established through Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.82 for OnAIUS and α = 0.95 for ROBS). Among the 960 participants, 23.1% of preteens and 24.8% of teens owned smartphones with internet access, and 60.8% of teens and 28.8% of preteens had social media profiles. Significant differences in risky online behaviour were observed across age (p = 0.004, η 2 p = 0.012) and gender (p < 0.001, η 2 p = 0.032). Time spent online was associated with risky online behaviour (p < 0.001, η 2 p = 0.054). Multiple regression analysis showed that internet use predicted risky online behaviour (β = 0.212, p < 0.001). The findings highlight patterns of adolescent digital engagement and risky online behaviours. The results support the need for digital literacy and online safety education among stakeholders. Further multi-regional studies are needed to confirm the findings across India