Ask Onix
States explore restrictions as Australia sets precedent
Indian policymakers are examining the feasibility of barring children under 16 from social media, mirroring a recent Australian law that mandates age verification and account deactivation for minors. The debate gained traction after ministers in multiple states signaled interest in similar measures, though legal and enforcement challenges loom.
Government and state-level initiatives
Andhra Pradesh, a southern state governed by the Telugu Desam Party-a key ally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's coalition-has taken the lead. Lawmaker LSK Devarayalu introduced a private bill last week proposing a ban for under-16s, though such proposals rarely become law. Separately, the state's IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, announced a ministerial panel to study global regulations and invited platforms like Meta, X, Google, and ShareChat for consultations. None of the companies have responded publicly.
Lokesh, in a post on X, warned that children were falling into "relentless usage" of social media, harming their focus and education. He pledged to make platforms safer, particularly for women and children. Other states, including Goa and Karnataka, are also reviewing options. Goa's IT Minister, Rohan Khaunte, confirmed the state was assessing a ban, while Karnataka's Priyank Kharge referenced a "digital detox" program for students and teachers but stopped short of endorsing legislation.
Economic Survey backs age-based limits
India's annual Economic Survey, authored by the chief economic adviser's team, recommended federal consideration of age restrictions for minors on social media. While the survey's suggestions are non-binding, they often influence policy. The report aligns with global trends: France's lower house recently approved a bill to ban social media for under-15s, pending Senate approval, and the UK is exploring similar measures.
Enforcement hurdles and legal concerns
Experts caution that implementing such bans in India would be fraught with difficulties. Digital rights activist Nikhil Pahwa highlighted flaws in location-based enforcement, noting that IP addresses-used to infer users' states-are often unreliable, especially near state borders. "You could end up with conflicts if one state bans social media and another doesn't," he told the BBC.
Age verification poses another challenge. Pahwa argued that platforms would need to verify every user, a logistically daunting task. Even in Australia, where the ban is already in effect, children have bypassed restrictions by using fake birthdates to create accounts. Prateek Waghre, a public policy expert, added that enforcement would hinge on platform cooperation, which remains uncertain.
Cultural and practical barriers
A study by a non-profit organization, surveying 1,277 Indian teenagers, revealed additional complications. Many accounts are created with help from family or friends and lack personal email links, undermining the individual ownership assumptions of age-verification systems. While some parents support a ban, others argue the issue runs deeper.
"Parents themselves fail to give enough time to children and hand them phones to keep them engaged-the problem starts there,"
Jitender Yadav, Delhi resident and father of two
Yadav, who has daughters aged eight and four, questioned the effectiveness of a ban. "Unless parents spend more time with their children or find creative ways to engage them, kids will always find ways to bypass restrictions," he said.
Global context and next steps
Australia's pioneering ban, which requires platforms to verify ages and disable underage accounts, faced resistance from tech companies. France and the UK are advancing similar proposals, though none have yet matched Australia's enforcement. In India, the debate is likely to intensify as states weigh the benefits of regulation against the practical and legal obstacles.
