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Some other countries of the world including Australia have banned social media for minors i.e. children below 16 years of age. Now it is believed that India can also take similar steps in the coming time. Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has indicated this. He said that the government is in talks with social media companies to make rules based on age.
Discussion on deepfakes and children’s safety
Speaking to the media during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in Delhi, the minister said that the government is also working with digital companies on threats like deepfakes. He said that many countries have now accepted that separate rules are necessary for children. The government’s concern is that addiction to social media and wrong content can have a negative impact on the mental health of children.
Strictness abroad
At the international level, many countries are taking strict action on social media. Australia has taken steps towards a legal ban on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. The Prime Minister of Spain has also described social media as a big threat to children. Many countries in the European Union (EU) are considering such rules to protect children from online harm.
Concerns of companies in India
India is a big market for social media companies. Instagram and Facebook have millions of users here, while Snapchat and X also have a large number of accounts. In such a situation, any kind of age based restriction can have an impact on these companies. However, tech companies have opposed such bans. The government says that the safety of children and stopping misinformation is the biggest priority.
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