Karnataka Announces Ban on Social Media for Children Under 16

The Karnataka government has announced plans to ban the use of social media for children below the age of 16, aiming to reduce the harmful effects associated with excessive mobile phone usage among youngsters. The announcement was made by Siddaramaiah while presenting the Karnataka state budget for the financial year 2026–27. The Chief Minister stated that the decision is intended to protect children from the negative impact of growing mobile phone use and social media exposure. “We will impose a ban on social media use for children below 16 years of age to curb the adverse effects of increased mobile usage among children,” Siddaramaiah said during the budget presentation. However, he did not elaborate on how the restriction would be implemented. Earlier in January, Karnataka’s Electronics and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge had informed the state Assembly that the government was consulting experts about measures to promote responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media, particularly among children. The issue has also been discussed at the national level. The Economic Survey presented in Parliament in January suggested that policymakers should consider age-based access to online platforms. It also recommended reducing excessive online learning to prevent digital addiction among young users. While many parents have welcomed the proposal, some have raised concerns about its practical implementation. Manohar N.H., a resident of Jalahalli in Bengaluru, said limiting social media for children under 16 could be beneficial in certain ways but enforcing the rule may prove difficult. He noted that many schools and colleges now rely on apps and digital platforms for education, which could make it challenging to regulate social media usage. According to him, introducing the rule may be possible, but its success rate could remain low due to implementation challenges. Experts in child development have largely supported the initiative. Dr. Sarita Nagaraj, a psychologist and child development counsellor at Motherhood Hospital, said restricting social media use could help reduce mental health risks among children and adolescents. These risks include depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and issues related to body image arising from unhealthy comparisons on social media. The move has also received support from political leaders. Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya welcomed the step in a post on X, stating that he had previously raised the issue in Parliament through a special mention. He added that Narendra Modi had also recently spoken about protecting the interests of future generations during an AI summit. Globally, similar measures have been introduced in several countries. In 2025, Australia became the first nation to ban children under 16 from accessing platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. More recently, Indonesia also introduced restrictions on social media usage for children below 16 years of age. The Karnataka government’s proposal adds to the growing global debate over regulating social media use among minors to safeguard their mental health and overall well-being.