Source India Today
DAVOS / VIJAYAWADA – In a move that could set a national precedent, the Andhra Pradesh government is considering a complete ban on social media usage for children under the age of 16. The announcement was made by the State’s IT and Education Minister, Nara Lokesh, during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on Thursday.
The “Australia Model” Under Review
Speaking to international media, Minister Lokesh revealed that the state is closely studying the legal framework recently adopted by Australia, which enacted a landmark law in December 2025 banning social media for minors under 16.
“Youngsters below a certain age should not be on such platforms as they do not fully understand the nature of the content they are exposed to,” Lokesh stated. “We believe a strong legal enactment may be required to protect our children from the negative impacts of the digital world.”
Why the Government is Concerned
The proposal comes amid rising concerns regarding the mental health and safety of teenagers in the state. Government officials cited several key reasons for the potential ban:
Mental Health: Studies have linked excessive social media use to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among adolescents.
Online Safety: Protecting children from cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and “toxic” content.
Lack of Maturity: The government believes children under 16 lack the emotional maturity to navigate addictive algorithms and misinformation.
Implementation and Enforcement
If the proposal moves forward, Andhra Pradesh would become the first state in India to implement such a restriction. However, the path to enforcement remains complex. Under the Australian model, the responsibility—and the threat of heavy fines—falls on social media companies rather than parents or children. Platforms are required to implement robust age-verification systems to ensure compliance.
A high-level Group of Ministers (GoM), including Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, has already been tasked with studying the behavioral patterns of children and the technical feasibility of the ban.
Mixed Reactions
While the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has backed the move as a necessary “protective shield,” digital rights activists have raised questions regarding privacy and the potential for state overreach.
“While child safety is paramount, we must ensure that age-verification doesn’t lead to mass surveillance of all citizens,” noted one tech policy expert.
The state government is expected to hold further consultations with NGOs, psychologists, and legal experts upon Minister Lokesh’s return from Davos before drafting a formal bill.
