National digital media policy proposed:Ban smartphones in schools, bar children under 15 from creating social media accounts

The Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change has called for a nationwide policy governing children’s use of digital media, recommending a ban on smartphones in schools and age-based restrictions on access to online platforms. The recommendations are part of a report titled Prevention by Design: From Voluntary Self-Regulation to a State Duty of Care, released at a United Nations General Assembly event in New York on “Responsible AI and Safe Digital Spaces for Children”. The report examined age-based restrictions on digital media in more than 40 countries and compared smartphone policies in schools across 110 countries. It argued that protecting children online can no longer depend on voluntary measures by technology platforms and should instead become a legal responsibility of governments. Smartphones banned in schools in 52 countries The report supports a nationwide ban on smartphones in schools, particularly during primary and middle school. According to the report, 52 countries have laws banning smartphone use in schools, while 31 have issued national guidelines for such restrictions. In only nine countries, the decision has been left to individual schools. JRC founder Bhuvan Ribhu said the scale of harm in the digital environment had grown faster than the systems designed to prevent it. He called for mandatory reporting mechanisms and an international legal framework to address cross-border online harm. Ribhu also said social media platforms should not be allowed to enter into arrangements with children that undermine their rights or safety. Report seeks age-based restrictions on online platforms The report noted that only a few countries were considering restrictions on children’s online access several years ago. The debate accelerated after Australia introduced a ban on social media use by children under 16. Similar measures have been implemented in China, Indonesia and Malaysia, while proposals are pending or under discussion in several other countries. The report also examined the legal age for entering binding contracts with online platforms. It said the minimum age varies across countries, citing 14 in Florida, 16 in Ohio and similar provisions in Vietnam. For India, the report said the age is 18 and that agreements entered into by minors are considered void from the outset. Five-pillar framework for children’s online safety The report proposed a five-pillar framework for regulating children’s digital use. The first pillar recommends banning social media accounts for children under 15. It proposes allowing 15- and 16-year-olds to use social media under supervision and with verified parental consent, while placing responsibility for compliance on platforms. The second pillar calls for a ban on profiling minors and showing them targeted advertisements. It also recommends restrictions on features such as continuous scrolling and other designs intended to encourage prolonged engagement. The third pillar proposes a privacy-preserving age-verification system in which a digital ID would disclose only a user’s age, along with strict limits on data collection. The fourth pillar calls for an independent online safety regulator, mandatory reporting of violations and financial penalties for serious or repeated breaches. The fifth pillar recommends involving children in policymaking while investing in digital literacy and guidance for parents alongside regulatory restrictions.