Andhra announces social media ban for children below 13
What's the story
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced a ban on social media for children below the age of 13. The decision, which will be implemented in phases over the next 90 days, comes on the heels of Karnataka's similar move. Naidu said his government is also considering extending the restriction to teenagers aged between 13 and 16 after consultations and policy review.
Karnataka decision
Karnataka government to ban social media for under-16 children
Earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced a ban on social media for children under the age of 16. The announcement was made during the presentation of the state's budget for the financial year 2026-27. Siddaramaiah said, "With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16."
Budget allocation
Karnataka budget focuses on education, student welfare
The Karnataka budget also announced several initiatives aimed at education and student welfare. The state government plans to fill 15,000 vacant teaching positions in schools and colleges next fiscal year. It allocated ₹565 crore for constructing new classrooms and repairing government primary schools, high schools, and pre-university colleges. Additionally, ₹75 crore has been earmarked for building toilets in schools, while ₹25 crore will be used for procuring furniture. The government also allocated ₹125 crore for maintenance work in educational institutions.
Figures
India is world's second-largest smartphone market
India is the world's second-largest smartphone market, with 750 million devices and a billion internet users. The country is Meta's largest market, with the most Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users worldwide. Less than a quarter of Karnataka's population is under the age of 15, according to a report of a 2019-20 survey conducted by the Health Ministry.