Karnataka Plans Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

The Karnataka government has announced a plan to ban social media use for children under the age of 16 to address concerns over rising digital addiction and the harmful effects of excessive mobile usage.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement during the state budget speech, stating that the move aims to protect children from the negative impact of unrestricted internet access. The government has not yet announced when the ban will come into effect.

India is one of the world’s largest social media markets, with around 750 million smartphones and nearly one billion internet users. The country is also the largest user base for platforms owned by Meta, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

The issue of children’s social media usage is gaining global attention. Countries such as Australia have already introduced similar restrictions, while United Kingdom, Denmark and Greece are studying the issue.

Experts, however, say that instead of strict bans, efforts should also focus on educating parents and children about safe and healthy digital habits.