New Delhi: A lawmaker allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a new bill that would ban children under 16 from using social media in India, adding to a growing global debate on how to protect young people online.
The proposal was introduced in Parliament as a private memberâs bill. It calls for social media companies to verify usersâ ages and to remove accounts belonging to children below 16. Platforms that fail to follow the rules could face penalties.
Supporters of the idea say the move is needed to address rising concerns about online addiction, cyberbullying and harmful content. They also argue that Indian childrenâs data is being used by foreign tech firms without enough protection.
The bill is not part of the governmentâs official agenda, but it has sparked wide discussion because it comes at a time when senior policymakers are raising similar concerns. Indiaâs chief economic adviser recently suggested that the country should consider age based limits on social media to reduce digital harm among young users.
Some Indian states are also looking at their own measures. Goa has said it is studying whether a ban for children is possible, while other states are discussing stronger online safety rules.
The debate in India follows steps taken in other countries. Australia has already passed a law banning children under 16 from major social media platforms. France, the United Kingdom and several European countries are also considering tighter age restrictions.
Technology companies have not commented directly on the Indian proposal. In earlier debates, they have warned that strict bans could be hard to enforce and might push teenagers to less regulated online spaces.
Experts say enforcing age limits will be challenging because online age checks can be inaccurate and may raise privacy concerns. They also point out that any nationwide ban would require strong legal backing and clear rules for companies.
For now, the bill is only a proposal. But with rising political support and similar actions abroad, the issue of children and social media is likely to remain high on Indiaâs policy agenda in the months ahead.