Panaji (Goa): Goa is considering an Australia-style ban on social media use for children as concerns mount over the impact of online platforms on young people’s mental health in a country with more than a billion internet users.
India, one of the largest markets for global technology companies such as Meta, Google’s YouTube and X, has a significant number of users under the age of 18. Despite this, there are currently no nationwide restrictions or proposed federal guidelines regulating minors’ access to social media platforms.
Goa’s Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte said the state government is closely examining Australia’s recently enacted law to understand how access to social media can be regulated for minors. He indicated that authorities are exploring the feasibility of introducing similar restrictions for children below the age of 16 in the state, with further details expected to be announced later.
The move comes amid growing debate across India on the need for safeguards for young internet users. Andhra Pradesh has also signalled interest in adopting comparable measures. The state, which has a population exceeding 53 million, has reportedly formed a panel of senior ministers tasked with studying global regulatory models and submitting recommendations within a month.
Goa, India’s smallest state by area with a population of around 1.5 million, would be among the first in the country to pursue such targeted restrictions if the proposal moves forward.
Australia last year became the first country to impose a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16, a move that reportedly led to the deactivation of about 4.7 million teenage accounts within the first month of implementation. Several other countries, including France, Indonesia and Malaysia, are monitoring the Australian model as they consider similar regulations.
