The Andhra Pradesh government is set to establish a regulatory framework to control social media access for children under 13 and create a suitable digital environment for teenagers. State Minister Nara Lokesh, overseeing Education, IT, and Electronics, has urged the formulation of a law that balances digital access with child safety and mental well-being. Emphasizing the importance of age-appropriate content access, especially for 13 to 16-year-olds, Minister Lokesh aims to shield children from harmful online content.
To align with global digital child protection standards, the proposed framework will draw insights from countries like Singapore, Australia, and Denmark. Officials are tasked with developing a legal and technological structure tailored to India’s requirements. The state government is exploring secure age-verification methods, including “age tokens” linked to DigiLocker, to authenticate user age without compromising privacy, a crucial step towards implementing age restrictions effectively.
Major social media platforms such as Meta, YouTube, ShareChat, and Josh have briefed the Group of Ministers on their existing safeguards for content restriction and complaint management. They have shown readiness to collaborate with the Andhra Pradesh government in enforcing these measures. Minister Lokesh has stressed stringent action against individuals posting abusive content, especially targeting women, and highlighted the reinforcement of IT laws, including Section 46 of the IT Act, by appointing adjudicating authorities promptly.
Recognizing the inadequacy of regulation alone, the state government plans extensive awareness campaigns, including digital safety education in schools during “No Bag Day,” awareness sessions for parents and students during Mega PTMs, and outreach to women through Self-Help Groups on online safety. This initiative aims to enhance digital literacy alongside regulatory measures, ensuring a comprehensive approach to child safety.
