India Plans Social Media Curbs for Under-16 Users

The Centre is reportedly planning amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021 to introduce age-based restrictions on social media use for children below 16 in India, according to media reports citing government officials.The move would mirror steps taken by Australia, which has barred users under 16 from accessing major platforms such as TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. However, Indian authorities are said to be exploring a calibrated framework rather than imposing a blanket ban on teenagers.

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India Govt Plans Social Media Age Limits for Teens

At the India AI Impact Summit, Ashwini Vaishnaw urged stronger safeguards to protect children and society from growing online risks. He said discussions are underway with social media platforms regarding deepfakes and age-based access controls to determine the most suitable regulatory approach.

Vaishnaw also asserted that global technology companies, including Netflix, Meta and Google, must adhere to India’s legal and constitutional framework. He said the government is consulting industry stakeholders to determine whether it needs regulations beyond the current system.

This is the first time the government has clearly indicated plans to restrict children’s access to social media. The recent Economic Survey had also recommended exploring age-based access controls for online platforms.

Currently, India does not prescribe a minimum age for social media usage. However, under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, platforms must obtain parental consent before processing personal data of individuals below 18.The debate over youth access to social media has intensified globally since Australia enforced its under-16 ban in December. Denmark has approved measures blocking users under 15, while Spain is weighing similar proposals. In Australia’s case, penalties apply to companies — not children or parents — with platforms facing fines of up to A$49.5 million for serious or repeated violations.

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