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Goa eyes Australia-style child social media ban
27 Jan
Summary
- Goa explores banning social media for children under 16.
- Australia previously banned social media for under-16s.
- Andhra Pradesh is also considering similar measures.
Goa is contemplating a social media ban for individuals under the age of 16, drawing inspiration from legislation enacted in Australia. The state's infotech minister, Rohan Khaunte, indicated that authorities are studying Australia's model to regulate minors' access to online platforms.
This potential ban is part of a broader discussion in India, a nation with over a billion internet users, regarding the risks of social media to children's mental health. While Australia deactivated 4.7 million teen accounts in its first month of implementation last year, India currently lacks national regulations on this issue.
Beyond Goa, the state of Andhra Pradesh, with a population exceeding 53 million, has also stated it is investigating comparable measures. A panel of senior ministers in Andhra Pradesh has been formed to offer recommendations after reviewing global regulatory efforts within a month. Other countries like France, Indonesia, and Malaysia are observing Australia's experience with similar legislative intentions.
