Indian MP Proposes Social Media Ban for Minors
A lawmaker from a coalition partner of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed banning social media for adolescents, giving fresh momentum to the global debate on teenage mental health and online safety in one of the world’s largest social media markets. The report was published by Reuters.
L S K Devarayalu, a Member of Parliament from the Telugu Desam Party, told Reuters that Indian children are becoming increasingly addicted to social media. At the same time, he said, India is generating massive amounts of data for foreign platforms, while the strategic and economic benefits of that data are being reaped by other countries. According to him, major technology companies are using this data to build advanced artificial intelligence systems.
The proposed 15-page bill states that individuals under the age of 16 would not be allowed to open accounts on or use any social media platforms. The proposal also places full responsibility for age verification on the respective platforms.
It may be noted that Australia has already imposed a ban on social media use for those under 16. Several European countries, including France, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, are also considering similar policies.
Although the bill in India has been introduced as a private member’s initiative, analysts believe that it could influence future legislation through parliamentary debate.
DBTech/BMT/OR
