Undeniably, social media is an important part of today’s digital age. However, it exposes the children below 16 years old to profound digital danger. With startling figures as reported by NCRB and CRY (2024), 1,238 cybercrime cases against children were registered under the Information Technology Act. The majority of offences involved sexually explicit material featuring children.
Furthermore, Crime in India (2024) has also highlighted that almost 9 out of 10 cybercrimes involve the transmission of exploitative digital content, with social media serving as a beacon to such offences. Juvenile crime too has surged by 11.2%, where social media acts as a medium to influence youth in the name of education while glorifying body image pressure, violence, digital trends, stalking and bullying.
Are children safe on social media?
While there is no explicit law on this usage, through a patchwork of substantive laws, India governs the social media platforms, including child safety. The current Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules (2021) under the IT Act, 2000, emphasises on platform diligence for child safety with some age gates (13+ on many apps), though enforcement varies. While Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs) have higher obligations for traceability and removal of harmful content, monitoring of the exposure and influence of such content remains a challenge.
The POSCO Act, 2012 (amended in 2019), also applies to online acts and integrates with the IT Act’s section 67B while penalising electronic material depicting children in sexual acts. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (2023) and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, too, have expanded their scope of criminal liability to digital and electronic modes. Even with such strong substantive laws, there are gaps in proactive prevention, as can be viewed in the data provided above.
A ban could strengthen intermediary accountability via age-verification mandates. The Digital Data Protection Act (DPDP), being India’s core data privacy law, establishes strict rights for minors. The age of digital majority in India is 18 years, unlike in the US and EU (13 years). Of course, a lot of precautions are taken even now, like social media platforms (data fiduciaries) are legally barred from processing a minor’s data without verifiable parental consent, but the rising crime rate by or against children too is increasing.
Global standing
Australia has taken a bold step by enacting a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16 years of age. The law mandates major platforms such as Meta, X and TikTok to implement age-verification mechanisms. The ban also imposes heavy financial penalties on companies for non-compliance.
Britain has proposed to introduce a ban on social media services for those under 16 by 2027. While countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and the UAE have also banned social media usage for children, stating concerns on exposure to harmful content & unhealthy screen time habits.
China has limited it to a strict minor mode where real name verification along with daily time limits are imposed. The pressure on the governments of these countries by parents, psychologists, and educators was tremendous, leading to the ban of social media.
Social media usage: A double-edged sword?
Social media can be a double-edged sword for the youth, offering significant benefits and posing serious risks too. Recently, the Economic Survey 2025-26 highlighted the growing concerns of digital addiction among youth. It noted that heavy social media use is consistently linked to higher rates of depression and worsening of overall mental health, anxiety and feelings of hopelessness among teenagers. Excessive use of social media also leads to sleep disturbances, poor academic performances and unrealistic comparisons of body image. Children are also highly vulnerable to cyberbullying, stalking and exposure to explicit or violent content. The influence of the unfiltered and unmonitored trends can also normalise risky behaviours and contribute to more juvenile crimes.
On the flip side, social media can also serve as an empowering tool for learning, connection and exploring creativity. It provides access to educational resources and tutorials that can help children improve their academic performance and develop new skills. For children living in remote areas, social media acts as a medium of communication to foster social connections and offer support networks. The impact of social media on children depends on how it is used, regulated and monitored.
Is India ready for a complete ban?
Debates have risen regarding a ban on social media for children below 16 years of age. In a country like ours, which is highly populated and culturally rich, a complete ban is extremely challenging, imposing a threat to freedom of speech and expression (Article 19) and the right to privacy (Article 21). The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is actively consulting stakeholders on implementing strict age-based limits. However, reasonable restrictions towards public interest, promoting children’s safety, provide strong grounds to support it. State-level restrictions like those in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh could be studied as models to actually implement across the country.
The National Human Rights Commission’s March 2026 Open House Discussion strongly advocated for regulation over outright bans, emphasising a balanced, evidence-based approach that protects children while preserving the educational, social and equalising benefits of digital platforms. Experts called for uniform central laws, digital literacy programs, stronger platform accountability, default safety features and a clear distinction, such as bans for under-13s and regulated access, to create enforceable solutions that respect children’s rights without driving usage underground or depriving them of opportunities in a technology-driven world.
India definitely needs to balance the concerns of child safety and digital inclusion of the young population, being the most populous country in the world. Social media platforms should be strictly monitored and regulated for age-specific content. Parental awareness and online controls, online digital safety programs in school, balanced access. A well-designed policy could help but should be a part of holistic digital education. Prioritise evidence over panic and invest in verifiable technique and awareness to protect the generation of tomorrow.
(DISCLAIMER: Views expressed are the authors’ personal.)
