Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced plans to prohibit social media use for children under 13 years old. The decision on extending this ban to children aged 13-16 will be made after reaching a consensus. Within 90 days, steps will be taken to enforce the ban for children under 13.
Chief Minister Naidu’s statement coincided with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s declaration to ban social media for those under 16. Last month, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha mentioned the government’s consideration of legislation to restrict school students from using social media. Discussions have been ongoing within a sub-committee regarding this issue.
The government is evaluating legal frameworks for age-appropriate access to social media, as stated by Minister for Information Technology and Electronics Nara Lokesh in January. Emphasis is placed on making social media a safer environment, particularly for women and children, to mitigate its negative impact. The group of ministers is exploring options to limit or prohibit access to specific social media platforms for children aged 13-16.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) urged the Centre to contemplate age-based regulations for social media. TDP Parliamentary Party leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu met with Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, proposing a policy discussion on age-based social media regulation for children. The party suggested the formation of a dedicated committee or expert group to develop a comprehensive national policy on this matter.
