The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Minister for Information Technology and Electronics Nara Lokesh, is set to investigate legal frameworks for ensuring ‘age-appropriate access’ to social media. Emphasizing the need to make social media a safer environment and mitigate its negative effects, especially on women and children, Lokesh highlighted concerns about declining trust in social platforms. The government aims to address issues such as excessive usage by children impacting their education and attention spans, as well as the online abuse faced by women.
In a proactive move, the Group of Ministers on Social Media, chaired by Lokesh, has initiated a study on legal mechanisms to promote age-appropriate access to social media. Major platforms including Meta, X, Google, and Sharechat have been invited to participate in the upcoming meeting to explore global best practices. The government’s focus is on enhancing safety on social media and minimizing its adverse impact, particularly on vulnerable groups like women and children.
The Group of Ministers, formed recently under Lokesh’s leadership, is evaluating the feasibility of restricting or prohibiting access to specific social media platforms for individuals under 16 years old. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, a panel member, highlighted the importance of reviewing different state and international models to identify the most suitable approach for Andhra Pradesh. Anitha referenced Australia’s legislation, which mandates a minimum age of 16 for social media use and holds platforms accountable for ensuring compliance.
During the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Lokesh had previously mentioned the government’s contemplation of implementing a ban on social media access for children under 16, similar to Australia’s regulations. Expressing the intention to discourage young individuals from excessive social media use, Lokesh stressed the necessity of a robust legal framework to combat the negative impacts of social media on children who may not fully comprehend the content they encounter.
