India’s Karnataka signals intent to ban social media for under-16s

Karnataka, the Indian state known for its tech capital Bengaluru, has announced plans to prohibit social media access for individuals under the age of 16. This initiative aligns with a worldwide trend aimed at protecting young users from potential harms associated with online platforms. During a recent budget presentation, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah revealed the decision, emphasizing the necessity of preventing negative impacts from mobile phone usage on children. However, specifics regarding how the ban will be enforced remain unclear, as the state government did not conduct any consultations prior to the announcement, according to sources from various tech companies. This move reflects a broader global concern, with multiple countries implementing restrictions on children's access to social media due to worries about the effects of platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. Notably, Australia paved the way by being the first nation to impose such a ban for teenagers last December, and other countries are now considering similar measures. Indonesia recently declared it would prohibit access to high-risk platforms, including YouTube and TikTok, for users under 16 starting March 28. Malaysia is also exploring comparable actions. The issue has increasingly come to the forefront in India, where officials in states like Goa and Andhra Pradesh have expressed interest in similar restrictions. In December, the Madras High Court recommended that the federal government adopt Australia-style regulations, while India's chief economic adviser, V. Anantha Nageswaran, called for age-based limits on social media access, labeling some platforms as “predatory.” A Meta spokesperson stated that the company supports initiatives that enhance parental control over teenagers' social media usage but cautioned that outright bans might inadvertently drive teens to less secure, unregulated sites. Meta reiterated its commitment to comply with any enforced bans while also arguing that limiting access to only a few platforms might not significantly enhance safety, considering teenagers typically use around 40 different apps weekly. Legal experts have raised doubts about the state government's authority to implement such restrictions. Aparajita Bharti, a partner at The Quantum Hub, remarked that the announcement seems more like an intent declaration than a formal policy. She questioned the Karnataka government’s legislative power to enforce such measures and suggested that policymakers should consider India's unique challenges, such as the prevalent shared device usage and the digital divide. Kazim Rizvi from the think tank The Dialogue pointed out that internet policy regulations generally fall under federal jurisdiction, which could complicate individual states' ability to enforce such bans. He noted that while states can express child safety objectives, implementing binding regulations would likely lead to constitutional challenges. Digital rights advocates have expressed concern over the implications of blanket bans on children's social media access. The Internet Freedom Foundation criticized the Karnataka government's proposal, highlighting potential enforcement issues and the need for age-verification systems, which could pose new privacy risks. They warned that such broad restrictions might limit children's access to information and expression, potentially exacerbating the digital gender divide if families choose to keep girls offline. The group stressed that addressing child safety online requires well-researched policies rather than mere headline-grabbing prohibitions. Neither Karnataka's IT ministry nor the Chief Minister's office has responded to requests for comment on the proposed ban, and companies like Google, Snap, and X have also not provided statements on the matter.