“We will ensure social media becomes a safer space"
A debate over banning social media for children under 16 is gaining momentum in India, following similar moves in Australia and growing international concern.
Ministers in at least two southern states are examining whether such a ban would be effective in limiting children’s access to social media platforms.
The discussion intensified after India’s Economic Survey recommended that the federal government consider age-based limits on children’s social media use.
The survey is not binding but often shapes policy conversations.
However, experts warn that enforcing a nationwide ban would be complex in India and could trigger legal challenges.
Australia recently became the first country to ban most social media platforms for children under 16, requiring companies to verify users’ ages and disable underage accounts.
The UK is also considering similar restrictions.
In India, LSK Devarayalu, a lawmaker from the Telugu Desam Party, proposed a bill seeking to bar children under 16 from using social media.
The party governs Andhra Pradesh and is a key partner in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s federal coalition.
As a private member’s bill, the proposal is unlikely to become law but could influence parliamentary debate.
Separately, the Andhra Pradesh government has formed a group of ministers to study global regulatory frameworks.
It has also invited major platforms, including Meta, X, Google and ShareChat for consultations. The companies have not commented on the invitation.
The state’s Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh said on X that children were “slipping into relentless usage” of social media.
He added: “We will ensure social media becomes a safer space and reduce its damaging impact – especially for women and children.”
Other states have signalled interest in exploring similar measures.
Goa’s Tourism and IT Minister Rohan Khaunte said the state was examining whether a ban could be implemented, adding that more details would follow.
In Karnataka, IT Minister Priyank Kharge told the state assembly that the government was discussing responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media.
He referenced a “digital detox” programme involving around 300,000 students and 100,000 teachers, launched in partnership with Meta.
Kharge did not clarify whether legislation was being considered or which age groups might be affected.
Digital rights activist Nikhil Pahwa said: “While companies can infer users’ locations through IP addresses, such systems are often inaccurate.
“Where state boundaries are very close, you can end up creating conflicts if one state bans social media use and another does not.”
Pahwa also highlighted challenges around age verification:
“Age verification is not simple. To adhere to such bans, companies would effectively have to verify every individual using every service on the internet.”
Prateek Waghre, head of programmes at the Tech Global Institute, said enforcement would also depend on platform cooperation:
“In theory, location can be inferred through IP addresses by internet service providers or technology companies.
“But whether the companies operating such apps would comply, or challenge such directions in court, is not yet clear.”
While lawmakers have identified a genuine concern, experts argue that a blanket ban may be too narrow a solution.
A recent study by a non-profit organisation surveying 1,277 Indian teenagers found additional barriers to enforcement.
The study noted that many accounts are created with help from family members or friends and are not linked to personal email addresses.
This complicates assumptions of individual ownership that underpin age-verification systems.
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