In a significant move aimed at addressing the growing concerns around children’s digital wellbeing, the Karnataka government has announced plans to ban social media use for children below the age of 16. The proposal was unveiled by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while presenting the state’s 2026–27 budget in the Karnataka Assembly.
The proposed restriction seeks to limit the exposure of minors to social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and other digital networks, which the government believes may negatively impact children’s mental health, behaviour and learning abilities. According to the chief minister, the decision was taken with the objective of protecting young users from the adverse effects of excessive mobile usage and increasing screen time.
If implemented, Karnataka would become the first Indian state to introduce a formal ban on social media access for users under 16, marking a significant regulatory step in the country’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem. The move comes at a time when India is among the world’s largest social media markets, with hundreds of millions of users across major platforms.
Government officials have indicated that the policy is part of a broader effort to address concerns related to digital addiction among young people. Experts and policymakers have increasingly warned that uncontrolled social media exposure may affect children’s concentration, mental wellbeing and overall development.
