New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday indicated that India is closely examining Australia’s approach to regulating social media use among children, suggesting that the country may be considering stricter rules for users under the age of 16.
Addressing the Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne, Prime Minister Modi praised Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for introducing strong online safety measures aimed at protecting children from the harmful effects of social media.
“The way Australia has enacted legislation and worked towards safeguarding society from the adverse effects of information technology and social media has become an example for the world. We are learning from your approach to IT and social media regulation,” Modi said.
Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 mandates social media platforms to verify users’ ages and prevent children under 16 from accessing their services. The legislation has drawn global attention as one of the toughest measures aimed at protecting minors in the digital space.
In India, officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have previously indicated that the government is exploring a “graded” regulatory framework for social media, with restrictions varying according to the age of minor users. The objective is to strike a balance between digital access and child safety while addressing concerns related to online addiction, harmful content, and mental health.
Growing global concern over the impact of excessive social media use on children’s well-being has prompted several countries to consider age-based restrictions. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Modi’s remarks are being viewed as a significant indication that India may move towards tighter regulations for young social media users.
At the state level, Karnataka has already initiated steps to restrict social media access for children below the age of 16, while the Andhra Pradesh government has also indicated that it is considering similar measures.
If implemented, such regulations could mark a major shift in India’s digital governance framework, placing greater responsibility on technology companies to ensure the online safety of children while reshaping how young users engage with social media platforms.
