Against the backdrop of rising concerns around online safety, the Andhra Pradesh government is examining the possibility of restricting social media access for children below 16, drawing cues from recent international legislation.
To evaluate the proposal, the state has constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Information Technology and Education Minister Nara Lokesh, according to a newspaper report. The panel is reviewing existing Indian laws and global best practices to address issues such as misinformation, fake news, and abusive online content.
A key reference point for the GoM is Australia’s new social media law passed under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government. The legislation bars children from creating new accounts on platforms including TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. It also mandates the deactivation of existing accounts held by children below the specified age.
Explaining the rationale, Nara Lokesh said, “Youngsters below a certain age should not be on such platforms, as they do not fully understand the content they are exposed to. Thus, a strong legal framework may be required.”
The Andhra Pradesh GoM also includes Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, and the Information and Public Relations Minister. As part of its assessment, the group is conducting a statistical analysis of social media-related cases where children are either victims or abusers.
In parallel, the state government has involved non-governmental organisations to study the psychological and behavioural impact of social media on children under 16. These studies are aimed at understanding how online exposure affects young users and whether regulatory intervention is necessary.
Based on its findings, the GoM plans to prepare draft guidelines and share them with the central government. Anitha indicated that the state may seek national-level action if needed.
“If required, we will request the Centre to bring in a special law based on the statistical analysis and evidential studies being done by AP as the situation is almost same in every other state,” she said.
The move reflects a broader debate on balancing digital access with child safety, as governments worldwide grapple with the growing influence of social media on young users.
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