In a major move aimed at protecting children online, Karnataka has proposed banning social media access for users under the age of 16. Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah proposed a ban on social media while presenting the state’s 17th budget on Friday. Scroll on to know more about this.
Karnataka Mulling Social Media Ban For Children Under 16 Years?
Amid growing concerns about digital addiction among young people, Karnataka is planning to ban social media for children under the age of 16. While presenting the state’s ₹4,48,004 crore budget focused on growth and development, the proposal was introduced to address the rising issue of excessive screen time and online dependency among the younger generation.
According to The Economic Times, citing growing concerns over smartphone addiction, excessive screen time, and the impact of social media on young people’s mental health, the state now plans to ban social media for children under the age of 16. Last month, the Karnataka CM spoke about this issue during the Vice-Chancellors (VC) conclave held in Bengaluru.
Raising concerns about mobile and online gaming addiction, as well as the impact of social media on children’s academics and physical fitness, he spoke against excessive phone use among the younger generation and opened the floor for a wider discussion on the issue.
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First State In The Country To Impose Such A Ban
If everything goes as planned, Karnataka could become the first state in India to introduce a ban on social media for children. Earlier, the state’s IT Minister Priyank Kharge had also indicated that the government was exploring the possibility of restricting social media access for minors, citing concerns about online safety, screen addiction, and excessive usage.
Not just Karnataka, several other Indian states have been thinking about banning social media for kids. Last year, the Andhra Pradesh government spoke about the possibility of a ban on mobile phone usage in schools. Goa’s IT minister also shared the state’s plan of restricting social media use for children below 16 years.
Also Read: No More Social Media For Children Under 16 In Andhra Pradesh? Here’s What We Know So Far!
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