{"id":83436,"date":"2026-08-29T18:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T12:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=83436"},"modified":"2026-08-29T18:21:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T12:51:27","slug":"meta-teen-safety-rules-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/29-08-2026\/meta-teen-safety-rules-india","title":{"rendered":"Meta&#8217;s New Teen Safety Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Meta is set to introduce <strong>new default restrictions for teenagers on Instagram and Facebook <\/strong>in the US after signing an $18 billion settlement with 52 state attorneys general that requires <strong>new safety measures for young users.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The settlement comes amid <strong>a set of lawsuits <\/strong>over<strong> alleged harms<\/strong> caused by <strong>social-media platforms to children and teenagers.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The states alleged that<strong> Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to keep young people compulsively engaged,<\/strong> knew about serious risks and misled the public about them.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They also accused Meta of<strong> collecting personal information<\/strong> from children under 13 without complying with the Children\u2019s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instagram and Facebook\u2019s new features for minors include the following:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A two-hour daily limit<\/strong> that\u2019s cumulative across Facebook and Instagram, which teens can only turn off with a parent\u2019s permission and which doesn\u2019t include messaging.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u201cNight mode,\u201d <\/strong>in which teens will not have access to features such as their feed, stories and reels between midnight and 6 a.m. They will still be able to access messaging.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The ability for teens or parents to <strong>disable autoplay <\/strong>on the two platforms, requiring the teens to tap or swipe to see more content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong> removal of like and reaction statistics<\/strong> on all forms of posts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teens or parents can choose a <strong>non-algorithmic feed <\/strong>that isn\u2019t personalized by the systems\u2019 recommendations and will only include content from accounts that teens follow or are otherwise connected to.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stronger age assurance technology<\/strong> to remove under 13-year-olds and ensure 13-to 17-year-olds access the age-appropriate versions of the apps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The agreement is also tied to <strong>Meta&#8217;s push for similar restrictions across other social media platforms.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ban of Social Media for underage Children<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Though <strong>India is yet to make a regulatory move <\/strong>at the central level, preliminary discussions around age-based social media restrictions are learnt to have begun at the IT Ministry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Economic Survey 2025-26<\/strong> also called on the government to implement age-based limits for social media usage for children and digital ads targeted at them.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Survey\u2019s recommendation stemmed from larger concerns surrounding <strong>\u201cdigital addiction\u201d <\/strong>among young users.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need for Ban\/Regulation of Social Media for Underage Users in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Protection from Cyberbullying and Online Harassment: <\/strong>Children frequently face cyberbullying, trolling, and online abuse, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and social isolation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mental Health and Psychological Well-being: <\/strong>Social media algorithms promote addictive scrolling, unrealistic body images, and peer pressure, negatively affecting adolescents\u2019 mental health.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Exposure to Harmful or Inappropriate Content: <\/strong>Underage users may encounter violent, explicit, or misleading content that is unsuitable for their age and maturity level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection from Online Predators and Exploitation: <\/strong>Children are vulnerable to grooming, sexual exploitation, and trafficking risks on online platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reducing Screen Addiction and Improving Academic Focus: <\/strong>Excessive social media use leads to screen addiction, reducing study time, concentration, and physical activity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection of Personal Data and Privacy: <\/strong>Minors often share personal information unknowingly, making them vulnerable to data misuse, identity theft, and targeted manipulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Combating Misinformation and Radicalisation: <\/strong>Children may easily believe fake news, propaganda, or harmful online challenges, affecting their judgement and behaviour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges in Implementing a Ban on Social Media for Underage Users in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Difficulty in Age Verification: <\/strong>Most social media platforms rely on self-declared age, making it easy for minors to create accounts with false information.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Strict verification may require identity documents, raising privacy concerns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technical and Enforcement Challenges: <\/strong>Implementing restrictions across millions of users and multiple platforms is complex.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Policy Inconsistency: <\/strong>If different states adopt different age limits, it may create legal and operational confusion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Impact on Digital Rights and Freedom of Expression: <\/strong>Blanket bans could restrict children\u2019s right to information, expression, and participation in the digital space.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Risk of Driving Users to Unsafe Platforms: <\/strong>If mainstream platforms restrict access, teenagers may move to less regulated or anonymous platforms, which may expose them to greater risks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Widening the Digital Divide: <\/strong>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>Australia\u2019s Model of Social Media Regulation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Australia <strong>became the first country <\/strong>to introduce a minimum age for social media use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Social media platforms must block users under 16.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Platforms must identify and remove existing accounts of under-16 users.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They must prevent new accounts or workarounds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mechanisms must exist to correct errors in account removal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rationale Behind the Australian Law<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is aimed to protect children from online risks and psychological pressure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Issues identified:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Addictive design features that increase screen time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Harmful content affecting mental health and wellbeing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A survey by the Australian eSafety Commissioner found over 50% of young Australians experienced cyberbullying on social media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A balanced approach combining regulation, platform responsibility, digital literacy, and parental involvement is essential to ensure children\u2019s online safety while protecting their digital rights and access to information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.business-standard.com\/world-news\/meta-teen-safety-new-rules-what-changes-on-instagram-and-facebook-126082800401_1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>BS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Meta is set to introduce new default restrictions for teenagers on Instagram and Facebook in the US after signing an $18 billion settlement with 52 state attorneys general that requires new safety measures for young users. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The settlement comes amid a set of lawsuits over alleged harms caused by social-media platforms to children and teenagers. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The states alleged that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to keep young people compulsively engaged, knew about serious risks and misled the public about them.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/29-08-2026\/meta-teen-safety-rules-india\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83436"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83438,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83436\/revisions\/83438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}