Karnataka & Andhra to Ban Social Media Use by Children

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Karnataka has announced a ban on social media use by children under 16 in its latest Budget, and Andhra Pradesh is moving to introduce a measure that would prohibit those under 13 to use such service.

About

• It signals the growing momentum in India to protect children from the various harms that social media platforms can cause.
• Andhra Pradesh has said the state will introduce similar regulations within 90 days.
• Calls for banning social media use for children are gaining traction across the world, with the precedent set by a landmark Australian legislation that went into effect last year. 

Ban of Social Media for underage Children

• Though India is yet to make a regulatory move at the central level, preliminary discussions around age-based social media restrictions are learnt to have begun at the IT Ministry.
• The Economic Survey 2025-26 also called on the government to implement age-based limits for social media usage for children and digital ads targeted at them. 
• The Survey’s recommendation stemmed from larger concerns surrounding “digital addiction” among young users.
• It also stated that simpler devices, such as basic phones or education-only tablets, should be promoted among children along with enforced usage limits and content filters. 

Need for Ban / Regulation of Social Media for Underage Users in India

• Protection from Cyberbullying and Online Harassment: Children frequently face cyberbullying, trolling, and online abuse, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
• Mental Health and Psychological Well-being: Social media algorithms promote addictive scrolling, unrealistic body images, and peer pressure, negatively affecting adolescents’ mental health.
• Exposure to Harmful or Inappropriate Content: Underage users may encounter violent, explicit, or misleading content that is unsuitable for their age and maturity level.
• Protection from Online Predators and Exploitation: Children are vulnerable to grooming, sexual exploitation, and trafficking risks on online platforms.
• Reducing Screen Addiction and Improving Academic Focus: Excessive social media use leads to screen addiction, reducing study time, concentration, and physical activity.
• Protection of Personal Data and Privacy: Minors often share personal information unknowingly, making them vulnerable to data misuse, identity theft, and targeted manipulation.
• Combating Misinformation and Radicalisation: Children may easily believe fake news, propaganda, or harmful online challenges, affecting their judgement and behaviour.

Challenges in Implementing a Ban on Social Media for Underage Users in India

• Difficulty in Age Verification: Most social media platforms rely on self-declared age, making it easy for minors to create accounts with false information.
  • Strict verification may require identity documents, raising privacy concerns.
• Technical and Enforcement Challenges: Implementing restrictions across millions of users and multiple platforms is complex.
  • Users may bypass bans using VPNs, alternate accounts, or logged-out browsing.
• Policy Inconsistency: If different states adopt different age limits, it may create legal and operational confusion.
• Impact on Digital Rights and Freedom of Expression: Blanket bans could restrict children’s right to information, expression, and participation in the digital space.
• Risk of Driving Users to Unsafe Platforms: If mainstream platforms restrict access, teenagers may move to less regulated or anonymous platforms, which may expose them to greater risks.
• Widening the Digital Divide: In India, social media is often used for learning, awareness, and communication.
  • Restrictions may disproportionately affect children from disadvantaged backgrounds who rely on digital platforms for information.
• Gender Digital Divide: Families might misuse the ban to restrict girls’ internet access completely, worsening the digital gender gap.

Conclusion

• A balanced approach combining regulation, platform responsibility, digital literacy, and parental involvement is essential to ensure children’s online safety while protecting their digital rights and access to information.

Source: IE