Karnataka plans to ban under-16s from using social media
Karnataka's Chief Minister has announced plans to ban social media for anyone under 16, aiming to curb the negative impact of too much screen time.
The move was revealed during the state's latest budget, and officials said they plan to introduce legislation and are preparing detailed guidelines; the minister said the proposal would be placed before the House in the next session after wider consultations.
Proposed ban raises questions on feasibility
This is all about protecting young people from issues like anxiety, cyberbullying, and sleep loss linked to apps like Instagram and TikTok.
The state also wants to improve digital safety in schools and offer new learning tools like free moral science books and AI tutoring.
Still, enforcing such a ban won't be easy. Experts warn about workarounds such as shared devices and other technical evasions, and about privacy concerns with age-verification checks.
Karnataka is the first Indian state trying this out, joining countries like Australia that have made similar moves.