No More Social Media For Children Under 16 In Andhra Pradesh? Here’s What We Know So Far!

Everything has two sides. While social media has helped bridge gaps and distances, it also has a darker side that cannot be ignored, especially when it comes to children. A major move aimed at protecting young users online has now got the nation talking. From exposure to age-inappropriate content to concerns around mental health, online safety, and excessive screen time, the risks are real. On Thursday, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh hinted that the state government is considering a ban on social media for children under 16. Here’s what we know so far.

Australia-Like Social Media Ban For Andhra Pradesh?

According to NDTV, Andhra Pradesh might take a leaf out of Australia’s book and introduce a ban on children under 16 years of age from using social media. The state’s IT Minister confirmed that the state is studying Australia’s under-16 law and added that they “believe we need to create a strong legal enactment” around this.

It is to be noted that this is still a consideration and nothing concrete has been finalised yet. While India has parental controls to restrict certain content on social media, there are no wider restrictions in the country and this has been a cause of concern for many parents in this generation. In a conversation with Bloomberg News, Nara Lokesh said that he is strongly against youngsters using social media, especially because “they don’t understand what they are seeing.”

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More About Social Media Ban Introduced By Australia

Last month, Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide restriction banning children under 16 from using social media platforms such as TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. According to Business Today, the new law prevents minors from creating new accounts, while existing profiles are required to be deactivated.

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