Screens and children: should India follow Australia and lock minors out of social media?

Question (10 marks, ~150 words):

'Protecting children online requires learning the intent, not copying the instrument.' Critically examine the case for legally restricting minors' access to social media in India, and suggest a balanced regulatory approach.

Introduction:

• The PM's praise for Australia's under-16 social-media ban, IT Ministry consultations and an Allahabad HC gaming PIL have put regulation of minors online on the agenda.

The case for restriction:

• Serious evidence links heavy use to anxiety, sleep loss, harmful content and predatory contact; voluntary safeguards have repeatedly failed.

The problems with a blanket ban:

• Reliable age verification needs intrusive identity checks (a surveillance/privacy risk); bans cut minors off from education and expression and are easily bypassed; India's scale and digital diversity make enforcement harder.

Existing tools:

• The DPDP Act, 2023 mandates verifiable parental consent for a child's data and bars profiling; IT Rules impose platform duties.

A balanced approach:

• Safety-by-design defaults and algorithmic limits; strengthen DPDP rather than an outright ban; invest in digital literacy for children and parents.

Rajasthan relevance:

• A young state with rising smartphone use and digital-literacy gaps needs schools and helplines, not an unenforceable wall.

Conclusion:

• Learn Australia's intent, not its instrument — make the digital world safe for children rather than locking them out.