Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh Ban Social Media for Children; Further Measures on Anvil

Bengaluru/Amaravati, March 6, 2026: In a significant step to protect young minds from the perils of digital addiction, the governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on Friday announced landmark restrictions on social media access for minors, with Karnataka becoming the first Indian state to formally impose a ban and Andhra Pradesh fast-tracking legislation for younger children.

Presenting the 2026-27 State Budget in the Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared: “With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16.” The move targets platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, aiming to shield children from cyberbullying, harmful content, reduced attention spans, anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep patterns that have surged post-pandemic.

Hours later, in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that the government will introduce legislation within 90 days to prohibit social media access for children below 13 years of age. “Definitely, we will make sure that within 90 days those below 13 years of age are not able to use social media,” Naidu stated. He added that the state is actively debating extending the restriction to teenagers aged 13-16 after wider consultations.

The announcements come amid mounting concerns highlighted in state economic surveys and expert warnings about the “real economic and social costs” of unrestricted social media use, including lost study hours, declining productivity, and rising mental health burdens among minors. Both states have drawn inspiration from Australia’s nationwide under-16 social media ban implemented late last year, as well as similar discussions in Europe and the UK.

Officials indicated that detailed enforcement mechanisms and supporting policies are being finalised. These include mandatory age-verification systems (potentially linked to Aadhaar for parental controls), penalties on non-compliant platforms, police monitoring of access points like cyber cafes, integration of “digital detox” programmes in schools, and public awareness campaigns promoting offline activities such as sports and reading. A dedicated task force under Karnataka’s Women and Child Welfare Department and Andhra Pradesh’s Group of Ministers (led by IT Minister Nara Lokesh) will oversee rollout, with allocations for implementation expected in coming budgets.

Andhra Pradesh’s IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, who proposed the idea earlier in January 2026 and studied global models, welcomed Karnataka’s decision on social media, posting: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Glad to see Karnataka considering restrictions… to protect young minds from the darker side of the digital world.” Both states are also engaging tech giants for compliance and examining overlaps with the central Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which mandates verifiable parental consent for children under 18.

The initiatives have received widespread support from parents, educators, and child rights advocates, who describe them as a timely shield against screen dependency. Congress leader Rizwan Arshad in Karnataka noted that unfiltered social media exposure affects children’s mental and emotional growth, calling for societal consensus on policy.

However, digital rights groups and psychologists have cautioned that outright bans could prove counterproductive, potentially driving children to unregulated apps or VPNs. Experts emphasise the need for complementary measures like digital literacy education and stricter platform accountability rather than enforcement alone. Questions remain on practical challenges, including shared family devices and privacy risks from age-verification systems.