Government mulls ban on social media for children under 16

The Centre is consulting stakeholders on possible safeguards for children on social media, including restricting access for users under 16. No final decision has been taken yet, but the move is part of broader efforts to strengthen digital safety for minors.

New Delhi:  The Centre is holding consultations with stakeholders on possible safeguards for children on social media, including proposals to restrict access for users under 16, Electronics & IT Secretary S. Krishnan said.

Krishnan said India is closely studying global developments before deciding on its own approach. “We need to study what other countries have done with social media. It is a matter of global concern,” he told NDTV Profit.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly praised Australia’s landmark ban on social media for children under 16 during his recent visit to the country’s annual leaders’ summit. PM Modi told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that Australia’s legislative efforts to regulate IT and social media are “inspiring the world” and that India is “learning a lot” from the move. This was a clear indication that the government is seriously considering similar restrictions to protect minors from cyberbullying and online addiction.

Countries such as Australia have legislated age restrictions for social media platforms, while several European nations are examining stricter parental consent and age-verification mechanisms.

According to Krishnan, similar concerns are increasingly being voiced within India. “In our discussions with the EU and other countries, concerns around the risks of social media have come up repeatedly. In India too, various stakeholders, including Parliamentary Standing Committees, have discussed these risks.”

He said no final decision has been taken yet, with the government continuing consultations across multiple stakeholders. “We’re in the process of discussing this with various stakeholders.”

The issue is expected to form part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen digital safety, particularly for children, alongside work on online harms, intermediary accountability and emerging AI regulations.

Under Australian law, major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X are required to implement age-verification measures to block users under 16. Social media companies are penalised for any breach of rules and not the children or parents.

Australia is the first country to enact a nationwide under-16 ban, and PM Modi’s remarks were well received as governments worldwide increasingly look to implement similar digital safeguards.

The discussions also come amid increasing scrutiny in the USA of major technology platforms such as Meta over issues ranging from addictive algorithms and age verification to cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content.