Govt rejects reports of social media ban on under-18s:Why is the issue in focus, and should there be age restrictions?

A report suggesting that India is preparing to restrict social media access for everyone below 18 has created confusion among users and parents. However, ANI has confirmed, citing government sources, that these reports are fake and have no basis. The clarification comes days after the Supreme Court asked the Centre to examine whether existing requirements for social media platforms to follow laws protecting minors should be given a statutory form.
The court’s observation has since led to reports suggesting that the government could completely restrict social media access for people under 18. What did the Supreme Court say?
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to look at making stronger legal provisions for social media platforms when it comes to minors. The case was filed by the Just Rights for Children Alliance (JRCA), which sought safeguards for children using social media and other digital platforms. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, discussed the fact that Indian law does not allow minors below 18 to independently enter into binding contracts. Justice Bagchi said that the requirement for platforms to follow such legal protections should not remain only a guideline. He asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to consider giving it a ‘statutory format’ under the Information Technology intermediary rules. Government says reports of under-18 social media curbs are fake The Supreme Court’s observations were followed by reports claiming that the government was preparing to stop people below 18 from using social media. However, government sources have told ANI that these reports are fake and have no basis. This means there is currently no confirmed government decision to impose a blanket social media restriction on everyone below 18 in India. The Supreme Court’s request was to examine the possibility of strengthening the legal framework for protecting minors online, rather than announcing an immediate nationwide ban. Why is social media use among children being discussed? The debate over children’s social media use has grown as concerns increase about the kind of content young users can encounter online. Social media platforms can expose teenagers to sexualised content, cyberbullying, harmful communities, addictive design features and other material that may affect their well-being. The issue has also been raised by public figures in India. In April, former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud spoke about the need for some form of regulation to control harmful online content. Referring to concerns about young people being exposed to disturbing material online, he said: It’s very crucial that if we have to protect our young and if we have to protect women against the kind of gender violence that we see in society, if we have to protect the future of the nation, which the young generation is, there has to be legislation which brings some control on what the internet can show. Former Indian cricketer and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh also raised concerns in Parliament in March about children’s exposure to explicit and sexualised content on social media. He said: Our children’s future is at risk. Today, many kids are getting addicted to social media platforms like Instagram and are being exposed to sexualized or semi-pornographic content at a very young age. Australia has already restricted social media for under-16s
Australia has already introduced one of the world’s strictest age-based systems. Since December 10, 2025, age-restricted social media platforms in Australia have been required to take reasonable steps to prevent people under 16 from creating or keeping accounts. The restrictions cover platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, X and Threads, among others. Children under 16 can still access some publicly available content without logging in. The Australian government says the measure is intended to protect young people from features that encourage excessive screen use and exposure to harmful content. Spain is also moving towards a 16-year age limit Spain has announced plans to prohibit social media access for under-16s, with platforms expected to introduce effective age-verification systems. The Spanish government says it is working on legislation that would establish 16 as the minimum age for opening a social media account. The proposal was still going through the legislative process in September 2026. Spain has also highlighted concerns including addictive use, harmful content, online exploitation and the misuse of children’s images. France is considering restrictions for under-15s France is also working on legislation aimed at protecting children from risks linked to social networks. A French draft law notified to the European Commission in September 2026 seeks to restrict access to certain social-network services for minors under 15. The French approach has been under discussion in Parliament, with proposals involving restrictions on platforms considered harmful to children and possible parental authorisation for other services. EU proposes gradual social media access for children The European Commission has gone further with its proposed EU KIDS Act, announced in September 2026. Under the proposal: What could social media restrictions mean for teenagers? Age restrictions could reduce the amount of time some teenagers spend on social media and limit their exposure to harmful or inappropriate content. Governments are particularly concerned about features such as endless scrolling, recommendation algorithms, likes, and other mechanisms that can encourage prolonged use. Australia’s updated rules specifically identify these features as potential risks. However, restrictions can also affect how teenagers communicate with friends, access online communities, discover information, and participate in digital spaces. Age verification also raises questions about privacy because platforms may need to process information to establish a user’s age. Australia’s privacy regulator, for example, has issued specific guidance on how age-assurance systems should handle personal information. This is why countries are taking different approaches, from outright age restrictions to parental controls, limited accounts, and safer platform-design requirements. What does this mean for India right now? For now, there is no confirmed decision to ban or restrict social media for all Indians below 18. The current development is that the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to examine whether protections for minors on social media should be given a stronger statutory basis. ANI has separately confirmed through government sources that reports claiming the government is planning under-18 social media curbs are fake and have no basis.