New Delhi, Dec 20: As Australia rolls out a world-first law banning under-16s from having accounts on major social media platforms, experts say a similar move in India would be fraught with legal, logistical and social challenges, despite growing concerns over children’s online safety.
Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, effective from December 10, mandates a minimum age of 16 for access to select platforms, with strong parental backing but sharp opposition from teenagers and civil liberties groups. The reform comes amid worries over mental health, exposure to harmful content and alleged radicalisation, even as platforms like X and Reddit push back or pursue legal challenges.
In India, where an estimated 491 million social media identities exist and youth are among the most active users, analysts note that any blanket ban could trigger mass unrest, invite constitutional challenges, be easily bypassed through VPNs and hit livelihoods tied to digital content creation and online business. Senior journalist Alok Kumar argues that instead of prohibition, the focus should be on tighter platform monitoring, prompt removal of harmful content and digital literacy so young users can engage more safely and responsibly online.
