Bengaluru, March 6: The Karnataka government has announced a ban on social media usage for children under the age of 16, making it the first state in India to adopt such restrictive measures. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared the policy during his annual budget speech on Friday, citing the urgent need to protect minors from the adverse effects of unrestricted internet access.
The decision places the home of India’s Silicon Valley at the forefront of a global movement to curb digital addiction among youth. Siddaramaiah asserted that the objective of the ban is to prevent the negative impact of increasing mobile usage on the younger generation. While the Chief Minister confirmed the age limit, he did not specify the exact date the new regulations would take effect.
Karnataka’s move follows a similar international precedent set by Australia in December, with several European nations currently weighing comparable legislation. Within India, officials in Goa and Andhra Pradesh have also expressed interest in establishing age-based curbs. The state, which has a population of over 67 million, serves as a primary operations base for global giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
India represents the largest global market for Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, making this regional ban a significant development for the tech industry. Supporters of the move, including federal economic advisors, have maintained that strict policies are necessary to tackle widespread digital dependency.
However, some technology experts and activists have expressed skepticism regarding the enforcement of such a ban. They stated that age-based restrictions are often easily bypassed through the use of false identification. These critics asserted that a focus on healthy digital habits and parental guidance might be more effective than a total prohibition
