Goa to Impose Social Media Ban for Children! Find Out Why
Goa, India’s most popular tourist state, is now considering banning social media for young children, following the example of Australia. With the increasing use of the internet in the country, concerns about the mental health of children and teenagers are also growing.
India has over a billion internet users, and this number is rapidly increasing. If a state government implements age-based restrictions on social media, it could impact major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
India is one of the largest markets in the world for tech companies like Meta, YouTube, and X. The country has a large number of users under the age of 18, although so far, no national-level restrictions have been imposed on social media in India, nor has the central government indicated any such plans.
Goa’s Information Technology Minister, Rohan Khaunte, stated that the state administration is studying ways to control children’s access to social media platforms. They are looking at Australia’s laws as a model. He said that if feasible, a similar ban could be implemented on social media use for children under 16 years of age, details of which would be announced later.
Similarly, Andhra Pradesh, a state with a population of over 53 million, has also indicated that it is considering such regulations. Goa, on the other hand, is the smallest state in the country by area, with an estimated population of over 1.5 million.
Meta has commented on the issue, stating that it supports laws that mandate parental supervision, but governments should also consider the potential risks before imposing a complete ban on social media. According to Meta, such bans could push young children towards less secure and unregulated platforms. A company spokesperson stated that young children use an average of 40 different apps every week, so targeting only a few platforms will not ensure their safety. It’s worth noting that the Andhra Pradesh government recently formed a panel of ministers, which will study global regulations and submit its recommendations within a month. Last year, Australia banned social media for children under 16, becoming the first country in the world to do so. In the first month alone, approximately 4.7 million children’s accounts were deactivated.
Several other countries, including France, Indonesia, and Malaysia, are closely watching Australia’s decision to consider implementing similar legislation.
