Asia
Modi Ally Calls For Social Media Ban For Indian Teens
Modi ally L.S.K. Devarayalu proposes a bill banning under-16s from social media in India, the world's top market for Meta/Alphabet, to curb addiction and data exploitation. A lawmaker allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi…
Modi ally L.S.K. Devarayalu proposes a bill banning under-16s from social media in India, the world's top market for Meta/Alphabet, to curb addiction and data exploitation.
A lawmaker allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stirred debate by pushing for strict limits on teenagers’ access to social media. The proposal comes from a senior leader of the Telugu Desam Party, a key ally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling coalition and the governing party in Andhra Pradesh.
The draft legislation takes a strict approach to online safety, proposing mandatory shutdown of social media accounts for children under 16. Instead of leaving checks to parents or users, the bill puts the burden squarely on companies like Meta, Alphabet, and X to verify users’ ages.
The MP behind the bill says the concern is growing addiction among children, and a larger worry that Indian users have little transparency over how that data is used or who ultimately benefits.
India would not be alone in taking such a step. The push reflects a wider international shift, with countries like Australia and France already enforcing age-based limits on social media use.
Addiction and Data Exploitation Concerns
India’s digital reach is vast, with hundreds of millions of smartphones and more than a billion people online, but age limits on social media remain largely absent. That gap is beginning to show, with warnings of rising digital addiction among children growing louder.
A new bill aims to change that. It would bar minors from creating or holding social media accounts and shift the burden of enforcement onto the platforms themselves, rather than parents or users.
The lawmaker behind the proposal has accused big tech companies of exploiting young users and turning their personal data into raw material for AI systems built and monetised abroad.
The idea is no longer confined to Parliament. States such as Goa and Andhra Pradesh are weighing similar restrictions, and the Madras High Court has already called on the central government to step in.
Global Echoes and Tech Pushback
The idea of restricting children’s access to social media is no longer confined to one country. Australia has already implemented a ban for under-16s, while governments in the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Greece are weighing similar measures.
Tech companies are pushing back cautiously. Some technology firms argue that stronger parental tools may work better than outright bans, warning that strict restrictions could push teenagers toward unregulated platforms.
Reactions remain divided. Free-speech advocates fear the rules could overreach, but many parents and child-safety campaigners believe tougher limits would make the online world safer for young users.
Biz Impact for Entrepreneurs
The proposed restrictions have opened a fresh fault line in India’s digital economy. Supporters see them as a long-overdue correction, while critics warn they could redraw how online platforms operate in the country.
For social media firms, the stakes are high. Mandatory age checks would add costs and pressure margins in a market that has long been central to their growth plans. For startups, however, the moment presents an opportunity. Many are already moving toward child-safe, regulation-ready apps and parental tools, betting that trust, not unchecked data extraction, will define the next phase of India’s internet economy.
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