The southern state of Karnataka, known as India’s “technology hub”, on Friday banned children under 16 from using social media. It has become the first state in India to impose such a ban.
The state chief minister says the ban is aimed at protecting children under 16 from the negative effects of social media. Some other Indian states are also considering imposing similar restrictions.
The announcement of the ban by the Chief Minister of the Congress-ruled state, Siddaramaiah, is being seen in the context of growing global demands for stricter monitoring of the use of digital platforms by minors.
The growing addiction to social media among children and concerns about unrestricted access to the internet have sparked debate around the world. That is why Australia became the first country to ban social media for children last December.
Britain, Denmark and Greece are also studying the issue, while similar measures are being considered in India, one of the world’s largest social media markets.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in his annual budget speech on Friday that “a ban will be imposed on the use of social media by children below the age of 16 to prevent the negative effects of the increasing use of mobile phones.”
He did not say when the ban would be implemented.
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