An ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a bill to ban social media for children under 16. The legislation comes amid growing global concern over the impact of social media on young people. Platforms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube face lawsuits over addictive content targeting minors.
Lawmaker L.S.K. Devarayalu said India produces vast amounts of user data for foreign platforms, helping companies develop advanced AI while offering little benefit to locals. He warned the bill aims to protect children from addiction and ensure social media companies are responsible for verifying user ages.
Read more: UK considers social media ban for children
Australia recently banned social media for children under 16, and France restricted users under 15. Other nations, including Britain, Denmark, and Greece, are also reviewing age-based limits to safeguard minors online. Social media firms have raised concerns that bans may drive teens to unsafe, unregulated platforms.
India’s IT ministry has not yet commented, but the country’s billion internet users make it a critical growth market for social apps. Devarayalu’s 15-page Social Media (Age Restrictions and Online Safety) Bill, though a private member’s proposal, could spark parliamentary debates and influence broader regulations.
Read more: France approves social media ban for under-15s
The bill reflects rising calls to tackle digital addiction while safeguarding children’s online safety. Experts say it could reshape how minors access platforms and push social media companies toward stronger age verification and monitoring measures.