BJP MP's Bill proposes social media ban for under-13s without parental consent

Amid a growing global debate on restricting social media access for minors, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Baijayant Panda has listed a private members' Bill in the Lok Sabha that seeks to prohibit children under 13 from creating accounts on social media or online gaming platforms without verified parental consent. The Bill, titled the 'Safeguarding Healthy Internet Environments for Little Digital-Natives (Shield) Bill, 2025', was listed on Friday but could not be taken up as both Houses of Parliament adjourned early.

In an interview with The Hindu, Mr. Panda said that multiple studies have established that social media algorithms are designed not only to foster addiction but also to reinforce narrow and extreme viewpoints. He described this as particularly harmful for young teenagers and children. He noted that many platforms have acknowledged these findings, and several countries have already imposed restrictions on minors' access to social media. The Centre, he added, is also examining the issue. "I had drafted a private member's Bill for this purpose a year ago, after wide consultations with all stakeholders," he said.

The Bill lays out specific provisions for child safety. It mandates that no child under 13 years of age shall create an account on any social media or online gaming platform without verified parental consent. It also requires every intermediary to provide parental control dashboards that allow guardians to monitor activity, manage privacy settings, and restrict screen time. Harmful content reported by individuals or guardians must be removed or disabled within 36 hours of receipt, or within 24 hours if it involves child sexual material. Every application must have a reporting button titled 'Report Child Harm' accessible to all users.

To ensure compliance, the Bill proposes penalties of up to ₹10 crore for intermediaries that fail to adhere to its provisions. Wilful or repeated violations could lead to suspension of services or blocking under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Officers designated by intermediaries who fail to exercise due diligence in matters of child safety or content removal—whether due to connivance or neglect—would be personally liable, facing imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of ₹10 lakh, or both.

The Bill also requires an annual child safety and risk assessment process, which would identify exposure risks related to content algorithms and interactions on a service. The assessment must be submitted to the government. Additionally, information collected about users through the verification requirement cannot be used for behavioural profiling.

Mr. Panda also took the opportunity to criticise opposition parties for their repeated disruption of Parliament, saying they need to "reflect and rethink" their blanket disruption even on issues where there is no dispute with the Treasury Benches. His remarks come at a time when the Union government is in a standoff with Meta over regulatory issues, and as more countries move to legislate on children's social media use.

The listing of the Bill signals growing legislative attention in India to the protection of minors online. However, private members' Bills are rarely debated or passed, and this Bill's future remains uncertain. Nevertheless, its introduction adds to the ongoing conversation about balancing online freedom with child safety.