India Considers But Steers Clear of an Australian-Style Social Media Ban for Minors
With Australia’s under-16 ban now in force, Indian policymakers debate practicality and rights amid differing legal and social contexts
India is watching Australia’s landmark prohibition on social media use by children under sixteen with interest, but New Delhi has indicated that a similar blanket ban is not likely to be adopted in the Indian context.
In December 2025, Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act came into effect, requiring major platforms to prevent under-sixteen users from holding accounts, with platforms facing substantial penalties for non-compliance.
The law places the burden of enforcement squarely on social media companies and has already sparked debate about its effectiveness, technical challenges and potential impacts on youth engagement and rights.
In India, discussion among policymakers and digital rights experts has focused on existing frameworks that govern online safety and data protection rather than outright prohibition.
Officials from the IT Ministry have emphasised that India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 already mandates verifiable parental consent for the processing of children’s personal data, but does not envisage a comprehensive ban on access for minors, arguing that access to digital platforms is intertwined with education, skills development and social participation.
Senior government officials have suggested that any move to mirror the Australian approach would require careful consideration of India’s vast and diverse youth population, digital literacy needs and enforcement infrastructure.
Experts weighing in on the debate acknowledge that Australia’s model underscores legitimate concerns about cyberbullying, mental health and addictive design features on social media, but they also point to practical difficulties in implementation across India’s scale and the risk that minors could circumvent bans through virtual private networks and secondary accounts.
Analysts and commentators argue that alternative measures — including stronger age verification, enhanced digital safety education, safe platform design and constructive parental engagement — may offer a more context-appropriate path for India to safeguard children online without curtailing access to beneficial digital opportunities.
The broader policy discussion reflects an emerging global discourse on how best to balance online safety with freedom of expression and access to information for young people in rapidly digitising societies.
In December 2025, Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act came into effect, requiring major platforms to prevent under-sixteen users from holding accounts, with platforms facing substantial penalties for non-compliance.
The law places the burden of enforcement squarely on social media companies and has already sparked debate about its effectiveness, technical challenges and potential impacts on youth engagement and rights.
In India, discussion among policymakers and digital rights experts has focused on existing frameworks that govern online safety and data protection rather than outright prohibition.
Officials from the IT Ministry have emphasised that India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 already mandates verifiable parental consent for the processing of children’s personal data, but does not envisage a comprehensive ban on access for minors, arguing that access to digital platforms is intertwined with education, skills development and social participation.
Senior government officials have suggested that any move to mirror the Australian approach would require careful consideration of India’s vast and diverse youth population, digital literacy needs and enforcement infrastructure.
Experts weighing in on the debate acknowledge that Australia’s model underscores legitimate concerns about cyberbullying, mental health and addictive design features on social media, but they also point to practical difficulties in implementation across India’s scale and the risk that minors could circumvent bans through virtual private networks and secondary accounts.
Analysts and commentators argue that alternative measures — including stronger age verification, enhanced digital safety education, safe platform design and constructive parental engagement — may offer a more context-appropriate path for India to safeguard children online without curtailing access to beneficial digital opportunities.
The broader policy discussion reflects an emerging global discourse on how best to balance online safety with freedom of expression and access to information for young people in rapidly digitising societies.
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