Karnataka to Ban Social Media for Under-16s

Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are considering restrictions on social media access for minors amid concerns about digital addiction and its effects on children. The Economic Survey 2025–26 also highlighted excessive screen use as a major risk for youth and recommended age-based access limits along with stronger age-verification mechanisms.

Age-Based Social Media Restrictions:

Dimension	Key Details
State Initiatives	Karnataka plans to ban social media access for children below 16 years, while Andhra Pradesh proposes restrictions for those under 13.
Policy Context	The Economic Survey 2025–26 identified digital addiction as a growing threat to youth and recommended age-based access limits and platform-level age verification.
Child Mental Health Protection	Aims to reduce risks such as digital addiction, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful online content.
Excessive Screen Time	Uncontrolled smartphone and social media use may negatively affect children’s cognitive, emotional, and social development.
Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle	Encourages offline activities such as reading, sports, and social interaction among school children.
Jurisdictional Challenges	Regulation of the internet falls under the Union Government through the Information Technology Act, 2000, creating constitutional and legal hurdles for state-level bans.
Enforcement Issues	Age verification and monitoring of users remain difficult without reliable verification tools and strong compliance from digital platforms.
Rights Concerns	Critics argue such bans may restrict children’s rights to information, expression, and participation in the digital space.
Industry Concerns	Restrictions could push minors toward less regulated or unsafe online platforms.
Global Example - Australia	In 2025, Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16.
Global Example - Spain	Spain introduced mandatory age verification requirements for minors under 16 using social media platforms.