National Desk: Concerns over children’s online safety are growing rapidly across the world. After Australia’s historic decision, India may also be moving towards stricter regulation of social media use by minors. Indications suggest that the Andhra Pradesh government is considering strong measures to regulate social media access for children under the age of 16. This was revealed by Andhra Pradesh IT and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Australia Sets a Global Precedent
Australia has become the first country to impose a complete ban on social media use for children below 16 years of age. Under this law, minors are prohibited from creating or using accounts on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter), and Snapchat.
The rule came into effect on December 10, 2025. Social media companies face heavy fines for violations, and accounts found breaking the rules will be shut down. Globally, the move is being seen as a major step to protect children from harmful content, cyberbullying, and mental health pressure.
What Is Andhra Pradesh Planning?
In an interview with Bloomberg, Nara Lokesh said the Andhra Pradesh government is closely studying Australia’s under-16 model. He noted that young children often fail to fully understand the content they consume on social media, which can negatively impact their mental development.
He also emphasized that if such a law is implemented, it would require a strong and well-defined legal framework.
First Such Move by an Indian State?
If Andhra Pradesh goes ahead with this proposal, it will become the first Indian state to impose strict restrictions on social media usage for children under 16.
TDP national spokesperson Deepak Reddy has also supported the initiative, stating that social media is often misused, particularly against women and children. Considering children’s emotional maturity, he said adopting global best practices has become essential.
What Are the Current Rules in India?
At present, neither the central government nor any state government in India has introduced a clear law restricting children’s access to social media. In most cases, the responsibility lies with parents. In this context, Andhra Pradesh’s proposal could become a policy benchmark for other states in the future.
