Unveiling digital vulnerabilities: Integrating online risks into community-based contextual child protection

: Background Adoption of digital technologies is impacting child protection outcomes. There is a significant convergence of offline vulnerabilities into the online environment, necessitating the inclusion of online safety within established offline safeguarding approaches to address both online and offline threats. Objective Grounded in a contextual prevention framework, this study assesses online and offline risks experienced by young people in Indonesian rural communities. The aim was to map local contextual risks, identify systemic gaps in existing safeguarding mechanisms, and facilitate the development of community-led prevention initiatives. Participants and Setting A purposive sample of 212 participants, including children (aged 9–18 years, n=106) and parents (n=106), was recruited from four rural districts in Indonesia (Boyolali, Cilacap, East Lampung, Sikka). Methods A participatory action research methodology was employed. Data was collected through community safety mapping and focus group discussions, and analysed thematically to identify key risks, vulnerabilities, and protective factors. Results Persistent offline risks, such as physical violence by caregivers and peer bullying, were compounded by online threats. Prominent online risks included cyberbullying, exposure to pornographic material, non-consensual distribution of intimate images, and online sexual exploitation. The research identified critical gaps in the capacity of both formal and informal protection systems to respond to these compounded risks. Conclusion Siloed approaches are insufficient; an integrated strategy is needed to protect children in an increasingly digital landscape. Key components include strong community-based mechanisms and robust complaint and referral systems equipped to manage online incidents. This research offers a replicable prevention framework for enabling communities to protect children.