Social media ban for children: Is it possible in India?
Growing calls in India to restrict children's social media use
2 hours ago
Abhishek Dey, Guwahati
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A debate around banning social media for children under 16 is gaining traction in India, with ministers in several states citing a recent Australian law as a potential model. This proposal has sparked a national conversation about the potential benefits and challenges of such a ban.
Ministers in at least two southern states have recently expressed interest in exploring the possibility of a ban to protect children from the potential harms of social media. The Economic Survey, an annual report, further fueled this debate by recommending that the federal government consider age-based limits for social media use by children.
However, experts caution that implementing such a ban in India may be challenging and could face legal obstacles. Australia, the first country to introduce a comprehensive ban, has faced criticism from social media platforms, which have reluctantly complied with the regulations.
France's lower house of lawmakers recently approved a bill that would ban social media access for under-15s, and the UK is also considering a similar measure. In India, a lawmaker from the Telugu Desam Party proposed a bill to bar children under 16 from using social media, though it is a private member's bill and not a government initiative.
The Andhra Pradesh government has taken proactive steps by forming a group of ministers to study global regulatory frameworks and inviting major platforms for consultations. The state's Information Technology Minister emphasized the need to protect children from the relentless usage of social media, which can impact their attention spans and education.
Despite the interest in a ban, enforcing state-level restrictions presents significant challenges. Digital rights activist Nikhil Pahwa highlights the complexity of age verification, noting that IP addresses may not always accurately determine a user's location. Additionally, children in Australia have found ways to bypass the ban by using fake birthdays to create new accounts.
Prateek Waghre, a public policy expert, agrees that enforcement relies on the cooperation of platforms and intermediaries. He questions whether companies would comply with such directives and whether they would challenge them in court.
Experts argue that a ban may be an overly narrow solution to a complex issue. A recent study by a non-profit organization revealed that age-based restrictions and verification systems could face additional hurdles in India's digital landscape. Many accounts are created with the help of family members or friends, complicating the assumption of individual ownership used in age-verification systems.
Some parents in India have expressed support for a ban, but others point out a deeper issue: the lack of parental engagement. Jitender Yadav, a resident of Delhi, suggests that the problem begins with parents who fail to spend enough time with their children and instead hand them phones to keep them occupied. He questions whether a social media ban alone will be effective without addressing the underlying issue of parental involvement.
