Debate Intensifies Over Age-Based Social Media Restrictions for Children in India

A debate has emerged in India after the governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh announced plans to restrict social media use by children—below 16 years in Karnataka and 13 years in Andhra Pradesh. However, the proposals may face legal hurdles because regulation of the internet falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Union government.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

India’s digital ecosystem is largely governed by central legislation such as the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw recently stated that the Centre is discussing the possibility of age-based restrictions for social media use, though no concrete implementation plan has yet been announced.

Economic Survey Recommendation

The Economic Survey 2025–26 urged the government to introduce age-based limits on social media usage by children and regulate digital advertisements targeted at minors. The recommendation stems from growing concerns over “digital addiction” among young users and the potential psychological and behavioural impacts of excessive online engagement.

Global Developments

Globally, several countries are considering stricter regulations:

• Australia became the first country to ban social media for children in December 2026.
• Indonesia recently announced plans to ban platforms such as Instagram for users under 16.
• Emmanuel Macron, President of France, also urged India to consider similar measures during his keynote address at the India-AI Impact Summit.

These initiatives are driven by concerns that rapidly expanding online content—including AI-generated material—may expose children to harmful information and negatively affect mental health.

Concerns Over Blanket Bans

However, civil society groups have expressed reservations. The Internet Freedom Foundation argued that blanket social media bans could be a disproportionate response and may not address the underlying issues such as:

• Platform design strategies that maximise engagement over safety
• Weak data protection frameworks
• Limited digital literacy among users

The organisation also warned that in the Indian context, such restrictions could inadvertently worsen digital access gaps, particularly for girls and young women, who already face significant barriers to internet access. Critics caution that measures framed as protection could become tools that limit their connectivity, information access, and participation in digital spaces.

Ongoing Policy Debate

As India evaluates possible regulations, policymakers face the challenge of balancing child safety, digital rights, and access to information, while ensuring that any restrictions are evidence-based and proportionate.

Sources: IE & TH