Karnataka plans social media ban for children under 16: First Indian state to consider age-based restriction

CM Siddaramaiah announces a proposed ban on social media usage for children under 16 to prevent harmful effects of rising mobile and internet use, following global trends.

In a landmark announcement during the 2026-27 state budget, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah revealed plans to restrict social media access for children under 16. The measure aims to curb the “adverse effects” associated with increasing mobile phone and social media usage among adolescents. If implemented, Karnataka would become the first state in India to impose such a restriction.

Siddaramaiah highlighted the government’s concern over the impact of excessive digital exposure on young minds. “With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16,” he said.

Also Read:Karnataka budget 2026-27: Subsidy hike and 50,000 new homes to fulfill housing dreams

The government, however, is yet to finalize the mechanism for enforcing the ban. Labour Minister Santosh Lad acknowledged the challenges, stating that monitoring compliance independently would be difficult. “The state will need cooperation from educational institutions and wider society to make this work effectively,” he told reporters in Bengaluru.

Karnataka’s proposal aligns with international steps to safeguard children online. Last year, Australia became the first country to implement a legal social media age restriction through the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024. The Australian legislation places enforcement responsibilities on tech platforms, with penalties reaching up to AUD 49.5 million for violations. Enforcement tools include age verification technologies, facial and voice recognition, and ID proofs.

Following Australia, several other countries including the UK, Denmark, and Malaysia have announced similar age-based social media restrictions for minors. In India, Andhra Pradesh had previously considered such a measure but did not proceed. Karnataka’s plan represents a significant move in regulating digital exposure for children in the country.

Also Read:Karnataka Budget: 2,500 health jobs, digital hospitals & life-saving upgrades – Here’s what CM Siddaramaiah announced!

While implementation details remain under discussion, the government has indicated that lessons from global practices will guide the enforcement strategy.