India's Karnataka to ban social media for children under 16: ET

India's Karnataka to ban social media for children under 16: ET

India’s Karnataka state government is considering a ban on social media and mobile phone usage for children under 16, citing concerns over their impact on education, mental health, and behavior. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently sought input from vice chancellors of state universities to evaluate the feasibility of such a restriction, emphasizing alignment with policies in Australia and other Western nations. The proposal aims to address excessive screen time and mitigate risks associated with social media addiction, including exposure to harmful content and potential links to substance abuse according to reports.

While some academic leaders supported the initiative, others raised practical challenges, noting that private schools often rely on mobile devices for homework and communication. The government clarified its focus would be on protecting students in public schools, where it fears children are particularly vulnerable to digital distractions as data shows. Karnataka’s IT Minister, Priyanka Kharge, previously indicated the state was exploring age-based restrictions during legislative discussions according to reports.

Experts caution that enforcement could be complex, particularly due to difficulties in age verification and cross-state regulatory conflicts. A 2026 BBC analysis highlighted that even in Australia—where a similar ban was implemented—children circumvented rules using fake identities according to research. Additionally, a recent study of Indian teenagers noted that shared accounts and family-assisted account creation complicate age-based restrictions as studies indicate.

The proposal builds on earlier legislative efforts, including a 2014 recommendation to ban mobile phones in schools to address safety concerns as reported. If enacted, Karnataka would join Andhra Pradesh, which has also initiated consultations on restricting minors’ social media access according to analysis. The government has not yet finalized enforcement mechanisms or exemptions for educational use as stated.