Amidst growing global concerns over children's mental health and online safety, India is signaling a major shift in its digital policy. Following in the footsteps of countries like Australia and France, the Indian government is reportedly considering a ban or strict age restrictions for social media usage among minors.

Union Minister for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, hinted at these potential changes during a recent interaction, highlighting the need for a safer digital ecosystem for the younger generation.
Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that the unchecked exposure of children to social media platforms has led to significant psychological and security risks. While India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act already mandates parental consent for users under 18, the government is now exploring more definitive restrictions.
Beyond just age, the government is focusing on strict penalties for platforms that fail to curb the spread of AI-generated misinformation and harmful content.