A debate over children’s social media use is now moving through India’s political system. A key ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a bill banning social media for under-16s.
India’s chief economic adviser has separately urged age-based limits to curb digital addiction. Several state governments are examining Australia’s model as a reference.
Lawmaker L.S.K. Devarayalu’s draft Social Media (Age Restrictions and Online Safety) Bill would bar anyone under 16 from creating or holding accounts. It places the burden of age verification squarely on platforms, not parents. Simple self-declared birthdays would no longer be enough.
India remains one of the world’s largest social-media markets, with about 750 million smartphones and roughly a billion internet users. Meta, YouTube, and X dominate usage, and none immediately commented on the proposal. The IT ministry has not yet taken a formal position.
The debate mirrors moves elsewhere. Australia has already enacted the first nationwide ban for under-16s, making platforms legally responsible for blocking minors. France’s lower house has backed a ban for under-15s, while Denmark has introduced similar rules. The United Kingdom and Greece are studying comparable measures.
Inside India, momentum is spreading beyond the bill. Andhra Pradesh has created a ministerial group to review global models and invited major platforms for consultations. Goa’s IT minister has said his state is assessing feasibility, while Karnataka has discussed digital-wellbeing programs with Meta.
Experts warn that enforcement will be difficult. Age verification across hundreds of apps, shared devices, and location boundaries could face technical and legal hurdles.
Devarayalu’s proposal is a private member’s bill, not a government measure, so passage is uncertain. Such bills rarely become law but often shape parliamentary debate.
Platforms have previously said blunt bans could push teens toward less regulated spaces. Meta has backed parental controls while warning against blanket prohibitions for young users.
