Indian states weigh Australia-style ban on social media for children

India is on the verge of becoming a significant case study in age-restricted social media regulations as several states consider implementing bans reminiscent of Australia's recent legislation. The western state of Goa has emerged as a key player in this movement, exploring the possibility of prohibiting social media access for children under 16. Rohan Khaunte, Goa’s IT minister, stated, "Australia has enacted a law banning social media for users below the age of 16. Our team is currently reviewing this framework to see if we can implement a similar restriction here." Following Goa’s lead, Andhra Pradesh, located in the south, is also contemplating similar measures. Nara Lokesh, the state’s IT and education minister, has indicated that officials are examining Australia's legislation and emphasizing the need for robust legal frameworks. At a recent World Economic Forum event in Switzerland, Lokesh remarked, "We must create a strong legal enactment to safeguard our youth." The Andhra Pradesh government has established a Group of Ministers to assess the feasibility of restricting or banning minors' social media access. This committee, led by Lokesh, includes several prominent cabinet members. Additionally, the issue has caught the attention of the judiciary, with the Madras High Court urging the central government to consider implementing restrictions akin to those in Australia, spotlighting the growing concerns surrounding children's online safety. Should India move forward with these restrictions, it could have significant repercussions for global tech companies, as the country represents a vital growth market. Estimates suggest that India has over one billion internet users, many of whom are children, making it a crucial demographic for platforms like Meta, Google, and X. A representative from Meta expressed support for efforts to ensure safe online experiences for young users but cautioned that decisions regarding app usage should rest with parents rather than government mandates. "A potential ban could unintentionally drive teens to less safe, unregulated platforms," they warned, referencing the importance of maintaining existing safeguards. Australia's under-16 social media ban, established through the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, has already revealed enforcement hurdles for social media companies. For instance, Meta began notifying Australian teenagers about account closures due to age verification challenges, underscoring the complexities of accurately determining users’ ages during sign-up. The law also applies to various platforms, including Twitch, but excludes others like Pinterest and Discord, raising further concerns about digital age-verification systems and their associated privacy risks. Australia’s initiative is drawing attention from various countries, including Denmark, France, Spain, and several Southeast Asian nations, which are now considering similar measures. Kazim Rizvi, founding director of the think tank The Dialogue in New Delhi, noted the increasing pressure for social media regulations targeting children, but emphasized that internet governance primarily falls under federal jurisdiction. This means states may need to collaborate with the central government for legislative changes, an uncertain path. India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, passed in August 2023, contains provisions aimed at protecting children's data, requiring parental consent for processing personal data of minors and banning targeted advertising towards them. However, the implementation of these rules will not be fully realized until 2027, allowing platforms time to adapt. Attempts to gain comments from Google, Snap, and X regarding this issue were unsuccessful, as was outreach to India's IT ministry.