An associate of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced a proposal seeking to prohibit children from using social media, placing India at the center of a growing international discussion about how online platforms affect young people’s mental health, safety, and overall well-being. The move comes as India remains one of the largest markets for companies like Meta and YouTube, giving the issue added economic and strategic weight.
Lawmaker L.S.K. Devarayalu argued that social media is not only fostering addiction among children but also allowing foreign technology firms to harvest vast amounts of user data from India. According to him, this information is then used to develop sophisticated artificial intelligence systems, while Indian users receive little benefit in return. He described the situation as one where citizens effectively act as unpaid data contributors as profits and advantages flow abroad.
Several countries have already begun taking similar steps. Australia recently became the first nation to bar children under 16 from social media, a decision praised by many families and child advocates but criticized by tech companies and free speech groups. France has backed a ban for users under 15, and governments in Britain, Denmark, and Greece are also examining possible restrictions.
Major platforms such as Meta, Alphabet, and X have not publicly commented on the Indian proposal, though Meta has previously supported parental controls while cautioning against outright bans that might drive teenagers toward unsafe or unregulated spaces.
India, with around 750 million smartphones and nearly a billion internet users, currently has no minimum age requirement for social media access. Devarayalu’s draft bill would require platforms to prevent anyone under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts and place full responsibility for age verification on the companies themselves. Although introduced as a private member’s bill, it could still spark parliamentary debate and shape future legislation.
