Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a ban on social media for children under 16. The announcement came Friday during the presentation of the state budget for 2026-27. The ban aims to curb negative impacts of mobile phone use on young people.
Social Media Ban Details
Children younger than 16 will be prohibited from using social media platforms. They will still be permitted to own mobile phones. The government plans to develop a program to implement this policy. Details of the program will be released after finalization.
This initiative follows earlier discussions. In January, Karnataka’s IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge mentioned consultations on responsible technology use. These discussions involved artificial intelligence and social media, particularly for children.
Parental Concerns and Challenges
Some parents welcomed the decision. However, they expressed doubts about its practical enforcement. Many educational activities now rely on digital platforms.
Manohar N H, a Bengaluru resident with two school-aged children, highlighted these challenges. His son is 16, and his daughter is 13. He noted that many schools use apps for classes and communication. Second PUC students, in particular, depend heavily on these apps. He believes enforcing the social media ban will be difficult, especially in government schools. He estimated a success rate of only about 10 percent for the rule.
Broader Context of Digital Use
The central government’s Economic Survey, presented in January, also addressed digital concerns. It suggested considering age-based online platform access. The survey also recommended reducing online teaching time to prevent digital addiction. Mental health and social connectedness were cited as key issues.
The Karnataka government’s move reflects growing awareness of digital well-being issues among youth. The focus remains on mitigating potential harm from excessive screen time and online engagement.