The southern Indian state of Karnataka, home to the tech hub of Bengaluru, has banned the use of social media for children under the age of 16, becoming the first state in India to introduce such a restriction.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his annual budget speech on Friday. He said the measure aims to protect children from the harmful effects of excessive mobile phone and social media use. However, the government did not specify when the ban will officially take effect.
The move comes amid growing global concerns about children’s social media addiction and exposure to unrestricted online content. Countries including Australia have already taken action, with Canberra introducing a nationwide ban on social media for children in December. Governments in United Kingdom, Denmark, and Greece are also examining similar policies.
India is one of the world’s largest digital markets, with about 750 million smartphones and nearly one billion internet users. For Meta Platforms, the country is its largest market globally in terms of users on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
According to a survey by India’s federal health ministry conducted in 2019–20, less than one-quarter of Karnataka’s population is under the age of 15. The state has a population of about 67.6 million, according to a 2025 presentation by government think tank NITI Aayog.
Other Indian states are also considering similar steps. Officials in Goa have said they are evaluating a potential ban, while a lawmaker in Andhra Pradesh has proposed legislation to curb children’s access to social media.
However, some activists and technology experts argue that strict age-based bans may not be effective, warning that children could bypass restrictions using fake identification. Instead, they recommend promoting digital literacy and helping parents guide children toward safer and healthier online habits.
