Goa, one of India’s leading tourist destinations, is considering a ban on social media use for children, modeled after Australia’s recent restrictions, as worries rise about the mental health impact of online platforms in a country with over a billion internet users.
India is a major market for technology companies like Meta, YouTube, and X, and is believed to have a large number of users under 18, yet there are currently no nationwide limits on social media access and no sign that the central government plans to introduce them.
Goa Considers Social Media Ban for Children Over Mental Health Concerns
Goa’s infotech minister, Rohan Khaunte, stated that state authorities are studying Australia’s law to understand 1how minors’ access to social media could be regulated.
He told reporters, “If possible, (we will) implement a similar ban on children below 16 for usage of social media,” adding that further details would be provided later.
Meanwhile, the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, home to more than 53 million people, has also announced that it is exploring comparable measures.
In contrast, Goa is India’s smallest state by area, with an estimated population of just over 1.5 million.
India’s IT ministry did not immediately comment on the potential ban.
Google and X also did not provide immediate responses regarding the proposal.
Meta Supports Parental Oversight but Warns Against Unregulated Online Risks
Meta expressed support for laws that require parental supervision but cautioned that “governments considering bans should be careful not to push teens toward less safe, unregulated sites.”
A Meta spokesperson reportedly stated, “We’ll comply with social media bans, but with teens using ~40 apps weekly, targeting a handful of companies won’t keep them safe.”
Additionally, Andhra Pradesh has recently formed a panel of senior ministers tasked with reviewing global regulatory approaches and delivering recommendations within one month, according to media reports.
Last year, Australia became the first nation to prohibit social media use for children under 16, shutting down 4.7 million teenage accounts in its first month.
Additionally, countries such as France, Indonesia, and Malaysia are closely observing Australia’s implementation, considering similar legislation for their own social media regulations.
