Some Indian states are thinking about limiting children’s access to social media because of worries about harmful content and online safety.
Goa and Andhra Pradesh have started studying Australia’s under-16 social media ban to see if similar rules can work in India.
Experts say such restrictions will be difficult to enforce and may need help from the central government, while raising privacy concerns.
Social media platforms are becoming increasingly influential, prompting an immediate call for tighter regulations. While the access to social media remains easy and widespread, concerns are growing about the content available on these platforms. While some of the material available on these platforms is informative and keeps users updated on emerging trends, a significant portion of the content is vague or obscene. Such content in particular is raising alarm about its impact on children, who ideally should not be exposed to such content. Taking this into account, and drawing inspiration from Australia’s recent ban on users below 16 years of age, Indian states are also starting to explore rules on children’s access to social media.
SurveyWhile India has national laws to deal with digital safety and child data protection, the current push is happening at the state level. Reports say that policymakers are concerned about young people’s mental health, safety, and exposure to harmful content.
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The western state of Goa has become the latest addition to the list of states which are publicly studying an Australia-style social media age restriction law. Goa’s IT minister, Rohan Khaunte, has recently acknowledged that his department is examining Australia’s law to see whether a similar ban on children under 16 can be implemented locally. According to him, officials have already gathered relevant documents and are reviewing their feasibility under Indian conditions.
Andhra Pradesh is another state that is weighing a similar move. Earlier this month, the state’s IT and education minister, Nara Lokesh, said the government was studying Australia’s approach and exploring the need for a strong legal framework. The Andhra Pradesh government has since formed a panel of ministers, chaired by Lokesh, to assess whether restricting or banning minors from social media is legally possible and practically enforceable.
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Beyond state governments, the judiciary has also taken notice of the issue. Because of the rising concerns about children’s safety online, the Madras High Court in December 2025 asked the central government to think about making laws like the one in Australia. Furthermore, experts also pointed out that the states can’t do much on their own without support from New Delhi, as the control over the internet lies within the hands of the central government.
Australia’s ban on social media for children under 16 started in December 2025. It has already shown how hard it is to check users’ ages and make sure the rules are followed. The law has also raised privacy worries because age checks need people to share sensitive personal information.
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In India, there are already rules under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. These rules say that parents must agree before companies collect children’s data, and they stop ads from being aimed at minors. However, these rules will be introduced slowly until the year 2027.
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Bhaskar Sharma
Bhaskar is a senior copy editor at Digit India, where he simplifies complex tech topics across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and emerging consumer tech. His work has appeared in iGeeksBlog, GuidingTech, and other publications, and he previously served as an assistant editor at TechBloat and TechReloaded. A B.Tech graduate and full-time tech writer, he is known for clear, practical guides and explainers. View Full Profile
