PM Modi Hails Australia's Social Media Ban for Minors, Cites Lessons for India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Australia's decision to bar children under 16 from using social media platforms, suggesting that India is closely studying the move amid growing concerns over online safety for minors. Speaking at the Australia-India leaders' summit in Melbourne, Modi described Australia's reforms in information technology and social media laws as "highly inspiring for the world" and said India was "learning a lot" from those measures.

Australia became the first country to impose a nationwide ban on social media access for those under 16, covering platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat. The ban, which came into effect earlier this year, has sparked global debate on age-based restrictions for online platforms.

Modi's remarks come at a time when the Indian government has been intensifying its focus on protecting children online. In recent months, Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Centre was in discussions with social media companies regarding age-based safeguards. Industry reports indicate that officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology have held multiple meetings with platforms and other stakeholders on this issue.

Last week, the government directed Instagram to remove advertisements linked to child sexual abuse. A June report by the Ministry of Home Affairs highlighted the use of Telegram for sharing child sexual abuse material, further underscoring the urgency of addressing online harms.

Several Indian states have also announced plans to restrict social media access for children. Karnataka has proposed a ban for users below 16 years, while Andhra Pradesh has recommended a ban for those below 13. Goa is examining similar measures. However, states do not have the constitutional mandate to regulate communications, although they can use other legal grounds to block access.

Any nationwide restriction in India would face significant challenges. The country has over 1.1 billion smartphone connections and one of the world's largest populations of young internet users. Implementing an age-based ban would require robust verification mechanisms and raise concerns about privacy, freedom of expression, and enforcement.

The Prime Minister's remarks have been interpreted by some as a signal that the Centre is actively considering tighter age-based controls on social media. However, no formal proposal has been announced, and any such move would likely involve extensive consultations with stakeholders, including technology companies, child rights advocates, and legal experts.

India's approach to regulating social media has evolved in recent years, with the introduction of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which impose due diligence requirements on platforms. The government has also been working on a comprehensive Digital India Act to replace the existing IT Act, which could include provisions for age-based access.