Growing calls in India to restrict children's social media use

BBC News - WorldEN 4 min read 100% complete February 5, 2026 at 01:50 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

India is seeing growing calls to restrict social media use for children under 16, mirroring similar debates and actions in other countries like Australia, France, and the UK. Several Indian state ministers are considering a ban, inspired by Australia's recent law, and the Economic Survey has recommended the federal government consider age-based limits. A lawmaker has also proposed a bill to bar children under 16 from social media, though its passage is unlikely. The Andhra Pradesh government has formed a group to study global regulations and consult with major social media platforms. Concerns center on the potential negative impacts of social media on children's attention spans and education.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Narendra Modi 40% France 40% Nara Lokesh 40% ShareChat 40% United Kingdom 40% X ×250% Telugu Desam Party 50% Meta 50% Google 50% Andhra Pradesh ×260% Australia ×270% India ×590%

Keywords

social media 100% children 90% india 80% social media ban 70% age-based limits 60% legal challenges 50% regulatory frameworks 40% policy decisions 40%