PM Modi praises Australia’s under-16 social media law; Similar move to be made in India?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Australia’s approach to regulating children’s access to social media, indicating that India is studying similar policies.
Speaking during the Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne, Modi commended Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for introducing legislation aimed at protecting young people from the harmful effects of digital platforms.
Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 requires social media companies to prevent users below the age of 16 from accessing their platforms.
In India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has previously indicated that it is considering age-based restrictions on certain categories of online content for minors.
Growing concerns worldwide over the impact of excessive social media use on children’s mental health have prompted several governments to examine stricter regulations. Karnataka has already begun exploring restrictions for users below 16 years of age, while Andhra Pradesh has also indicated that similar measures may be introduced.