Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said that the state government is considering steps to restrict access to social media platforms for children below 13 years of age. Addressing the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Naidu said the government is working on a policy regarding the same, which could be rolled out in the next 90 days.
He added that the government is also in discussions about potential regulations for teenagers aged 13 to 16, and a decision on this age group will be made after wider consultation. CM Naidu said the state government was committed to ensuring that children were not adversely affected by social media and assured that steps would be taken to protect their welfare.
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This comes after the neighboring state of Karnataka moved to restrict social media use for minors under the age of 16, marking the first such move in India to regulate young users’ online activity. The decision was announced amid growing concerns about children’s excessive screen time and exposure to unfiltered content.
“In order to protect children from the negative effects of rising mobile phone and internet usage, access to social media will be restricted for those under 16 years of age,” Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced during his annual budget speech on Friday. The country has not yet determined when the ban will officially begin.
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In response, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh mocked his counterparts in Karnataka, writing on
Meanwhile, other states in India have also begun considering restrictions on young users. Goa’s IT Minister confirmed discussions on possible age-based restrictions earlier this year. At the national level, India’s chief economic advisor also called for specific age limits to curb digital addiction, a move that received widespread support, according to a report by Reuters.
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Even on a global level, the debate about children and social media is gaining momentum. Australia became the first country to ban social media for children in December, while countries such as the UK, Denmark and Greece are also exploring similar measures.
(With Reuters inputs)
