BENGALURU: The Karnataka government is considering banning students below the age of 16 from using mobile phones, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah starting consultations with university leaders as part of efforts to address concerns about social media addiction and its effects on children.
Raising the issue at the meeting of vice-chancellors of universities held by the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, Siddaramaiah said the proposal was still at the discussion stage and sought their views on whether restrictions should be imposed on minors.
He said: “Today, we are discussing this matter, and since you are all vice chancellors of universities here, I am asking for your opinion. Children are falling prey to drugs. Also, in line with many other countries, such as Australia, there is an idea to ban mobile phones among students. I want your opinion on this matter. We are looking into this matter.”
The Prime Minister indicated that the proposed measure would apply only to minors and would not affect adult students at universities. He also instructed vice chancellors of universities to take steps to ensure that educational institutions remain drug-free, stressing his concern about the dangers facing young people.
According to officials, the consultations reflect growing concern within the government about the impact of smartphones and social media on student behaviour, mental health and academic progress. Siddaramaiah warned that excessive exposure to digital platforms affects children’s development and increases their vulnerability to harmful influences.
No decision has been announced, and the government is currently seeking comments before deciding whether to impose any restrictions or how to implement them, officials familiar with the matter said.
The discussions come amid a broader debate within Karnataka state and across India about regulating children’s access to smartphones and social media.
Last Tuesday, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnao said that the government is in consultation with various social media platforms on age-based restrictions.
“This is something that has been accepted by many countries – regulation based on age should be there. It was part of the DPDP (Digital Personal Data Protection) Act,” Vaishnau said at a press conference. “Right now, we are having a conversation about deepfakes and age restrictions with different social media platforms.”
Currently, there is no law in India preventing children under a certain age from accessing social media, but under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, social media platforms must obtain verifiable parental consent before processing the personal data of anyone under 18 years of age. This indirectly limits use by minors because platforms typically rely on parental permission to legally handle child data. This means that platforms cannot freely collect data on children, or target ads to them without parental permission.
Earlier this year, Priyank Karg, Karnataka’s IT minister, told the state assembly that the government was considering steps to address the impact of digital platforms on minors.
“Finland has taken a decision, the UK is also considering similar measures, and Australia received a call two months ago to ban children’s exposure to social media,” he told the General Assembly in January. “We are also discussing what needs to be done regarding the responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media. It is under discussion.”
Other Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh and Goa, are considering similar measures amid concerns about the psychological and social effects of excessive screen time.
Nationally, the latest India Economic Survey warned that compulsive digital use among youth is affecting academic performance and productivity, and recommended preventive measures such as age verification and restrictions on certain platform features.
Many countries have already introduced restrictions based on age. Australia has enacted a law banning social media use for children under 16, while France and Denmark have agreed limits for younger teens. Similar proposals are now being considered in Finland and the United Kingdom.
