Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that the state government will ban social media use for children below 16 years of age.
The announcement came while he was presenting the 2026–27 state Budget in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. The budget, expected to be around 4.20 lakh crore, is likely to focus on welfare schemes and infrastructure development in Bengaluru and other backward regions.
Siddaramaiah said the proposed restriction is aimed at addressing the growing concerns around excessive smartphone and social media use among children.
The Chief Minister had earlier discussed the issue with university vice chancellors, seeking their views on whether mobile phones should be restricted for children under 16.
The idea of regulating children’s access to social media had been under discussion within the Karnataka government for some time.
State IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge had told the Assembly earlier this year that the government was examining possible measures to ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media among young users.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had also expressed concerns about the impact of excessive screen exposure on children.
BJP MLA and former minister Suresh Kumar had urged the government to take the issue seriously, warning that unregulated social media exposure could harm both education and family environments.
Karnataka’s move comes amid a growing global debate on regulating children’s access to social media.
Several countries have already begun experimenting with restrictions. Australia has introduced strict measures limiting social media access for younger users, while the United Kingdom and Finland have also been discussing similar safeguards.
In parts of Europe, including France and Spain, schools have imposed limits on smartphone use in classrooms to reduce distraction and improve student focus.
These discussions reflect rising global concern over the impact of social media algorithms, screen addiction and online risks on young users.
However, experts say regulating children’s digital exposure is far more complicated than simply imposing bans.
India’s Economic Survey 2025–26 has already flagged excessive smartphone use among young people as a growing concern, linking it to sleep problems, anxiety, reduced attention spans and academic stress.
But addiction is only one layer of the problem.
Cybersecurity experts warn that children and teenagers often share personal information online without fully understanding privacy risks. Social media platforms, games and apps can collect location data, behavioural patterns, voice samples and browsing habits, creating detailed digital footprints that may later be misused for surveillance, identity theft or targeted manipulation.
Another growing concern is online grooming. Law enforcement agencies across countries have repeatedly warned that predators increasingly use social media, gaming chats and messaging platforms to build trust with minors before exploiting them. Such interactions can continue for months without parents or teachers noticing.
Artificial intelligence has added a new dimension to these risks. AI-powered chatbots and recommendation algorithms can keep children engaged for long periods while also collecting sensitive behavioural data. In some cases, experts say such systems may unintentionally expose minors to harmful content or enable new forms of manipulation.
At the same time, technology is not only a source of risk. For many young people, social media and digital platforms also provide access to learning resources, coding communities, creative opportunities and even early entrepreneurial ventures.
Because of this dual nature, experts say blanket bans may be difficult to enforce and could push young users towards unregulated platforms, virtual private networks (VPNs) or hidden accounts that are harder for parents and authorities to monitor.
Many policymakers are therefore exploring a middle path — combining age-based safeguards, stronger privacy protections, parental controls and digital literacy programmes rather than relying solely on prohibitions.
As Karnataka moves ahead with its proposed restrictions, the debate reflects a wider global challenge: how to protect children online while still allowing them to benefit from the opportunities of the digital world.
