India is seeing growing debate over limiting social media access for children under 16. Several state ministers have indicated they are studying a law recently introduced in Australia, which requires platforms to verify users’ ages and block underage accounts.
State Governments Explore Age-Based Limits
In southern India, ministers are considering whether such restrictions could protect children from the negative effects of social media. Last week, the Economic Survey suggested the federal government evaluate age-based limits for social media use. While the recommendations are not binding, they could guide policy decisions.
Andhra Pradesh lawmaker LSK Devarayalu recently proposed a bill to bar children under 16 from social media. As a private member’s bill, it may not become law, but it could influence parliamentary discussions.
Consultations With Social Media Platforms
The Andhra Pradesh government has formed a committee to study global regulatory frameworks. Major platforms like Meta, X, Google, and ShareChat have been invited to provide input, though none have responded publicly yet.
Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh warned that children are increasingly spending excessive time on social media, affecting their attention spans and education. He emphasized the need to make platforms safer, particularly for children and women.
Other States Show Interest
Goa’s Tourism and IT Minister Rohan Khaunte said the state is reviewing the feasibility of a ban. Karnataka’s IT Minister Priyank Kharge highlighted efforts to promote responsible social media and AI use. The state has run a “digital detox” program involving 300,000 students and 100,000 teachers in partnership with Meta.
Challenges to Enforcement
Digital rights expert Nikhil Pahwa cautioned that enforcing state-level bans would be complicated. IP-based location tracking is often inaccurate near state borders. Age verification poses another challenge, as platforms would need to verify every user across all services.
Even in Australia, some children bypass restrictions by entering fake birthdays. Public policy expert Prateek Waghre added that successful enforcement depends on social media companies’ cooperation, which is uncertain.
Experts Suggest Broader Measures
While lawmakers recognize the risks, experts argue that banning social media for children may be too narrow a solution. A survey of 1,277 Indian teenagers revealed that age-based restrictions face practical challenges in India’s digital landscape.
