Andhra Pradesh is actively considering a social media ban for children under 16 similar to the one recently implemented in Australia, IT Minister Nara Lokesh said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
Lokesh said the state is “studying Australia’s under‑16 law” and may pursue a “strong legal enactment” to curb exposure to harmful online content, although the Union government has not taken a clear stance on this proposal.
Supporters argue the move could protect children from mental‑health risks and cyber harm, while critics caution about enforceability and freedom concerns. If enacted, Andhra Pradesh would become the first Indian state to pursue such restrictions.
Andhra Pradesh Eyes Digital Age Curbs on Youth
The proposal from Andhra Pradesh comes as Australia’s Online Safety Amendment Act 2024 has already come into force, effectively banning children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X, YouTube, and Reddit.
Under the Australian law, tech companies must implement robust age verification systems and face fines of up to A$49.5 million (about ₹300 crore) for non‑compliance.
Speaking with Bloomberg News at WEF, Lokesh emphasised that “youngsters under a certain age should not be on social media because they don’t understand what they are seeing,” and that a strong legal framework may be required to shield minors from harmful, misleading, and toxic content.
Lokesh’s remarks signal that the Andhra Pradesh government is examining international best practices to decide whether such a law could be adapted locally. “As a state, we are studying Australia’s under‑16 law,” he said, adding that the initiative is rooted in concerns about children’s mental health, safety, and emotional well‑being.
While India’s federal government has implemented parental controls that let guardians monitor and limit minors’ social media access, there has been no official nationwide position on broad age‑based restrictions.
Supporters, Critics and Legal Challenges
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from political allies, experts and civil society. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National Spokesperson Deepak Reddy backed Lokesh’s statement, saying children “are not emotionally mature enough to understand harmful online content” and that the government’s focus is child safety “not oversight or censorship.”
Reddy also recalled instances when social media was misused for abusive attacks, particularly against women, during previous administrations, underlining the urgency of stronger protections.
Yet, legal and practical challenges remain. Some cybersecurity and public policy lawyers warn that a state‑level ban in India could face hurdles, given the technical difficulty of accurately verifying age online, the scale of India’s internet user base, and the ease of circumventing restrictions using VPNs or fake credentials.
One expert noted that the internet’s technical architecture allows users to bypass simple blocks, underscoring the need for careful legal and technological design.
Internationally, Australia’s law itself is being challenged in its High Court by digital‑freedom advocates who argue that such broad restrictions may be overreach or counter‑productive, potentially driving children to less regulated corners of the internet rather than protecting them.
Critics in Australia have also stressed that social media can be an important space for young people to connect and learn, and that bans do not address underlying issues like digital literacy, privacy and safe use.
A Growing Debate on Child Safety Online
Andhra Pradesh’s deliberations unfold against a backdrop of global policy experimentation aimed at mitigating social media’s harms on young users. Besides Australia, the United Kingdom’s House of Lords recently voted in favour of exploring similar age‑based restrictions, and other nations including Indonesia, Denmark and Brazil have debated measures to rein in the influence of Big Tech on children’s lives.
Advocates of age‑based regulations point to research linking excessive social media use among minors with anxiety, depression, cyberbullying and lowered self‑esteem, while opponents worry about freedom of speech, parental autonomy, enforceability and digital exclusion.
Some civil libertarians also argue that focusing solely on access restrictions could divert attention from broader solutions like digital literacy education, platform accountability and improved moderation.
In India, legal petitions and court cases have sought stricter controls on harmful online content, and some high courts have suggested the Centre consider Australia‑like legislation to protect children. However, the federal government has yet to propose a formal regulatory framework equivalent to Australia’s age‑based ban.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The debate around restricting social media use for minors is complex, touching on core values such as child safety, freedom of expression, parental choice, digital inclusion and government intervention.
While the intent to protect children from harmful content and preserve mental well‑being is laudable, policymakers should be cautious about one‑size‑fits‑all bans that may inadvertently limit opportunities for learning, creativity and healthy social connections.
