Government Rules Out Plans To Curb Social Media Access For Under-18s

The Union government on Wednesday denied reports that it was planning to restrict social media access for people under 18, describing such reports as “fake” and without any basis. Sources in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said there was no proposal under consideration to impose such curbs. The clarification came a day after reports about possible changes to the rules governing minors' access to social media platforms.

The government’s clarification followed a Supreme Court hearing on a petition filed by the Just Rights for Children Alliance, which has raised concerns about children's exposure to risks in the digital environment. During the hearing, the court asked the Centre to examine how existing statutory provisions could be used to ensure that social media intermediaries comply with Indian law when allowing minors to operate accounts.

Reports after the hearing had suggested that the Centre was considering amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules to prevent people under 18 from opening social media accounts. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the court that agreements entered into by minors with social media intermediaries raise legal concerns, while the bench discussed whether platforms should be required to ensure that their technology and software comply with Indian law.

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The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, also examined the legal framework governing minors' interaction with social media intermediaries. Justice Bagchi questioned the applicability of restrictions developed under foreign legal systems to India's digital environment and stressed the need for platforms operating in the country to follow Indian law. The proceedings focused on the legal safeguards available for children rather than announcing an immediate nationwide ban.

The issue comes against the backdrop of existing government measures aimed at protecting children online. The government has previously said that the Information Technology Act, the Information Technology Rules and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act provide a regulatory framework for a safer digital environment, while acknowledging risks including harmful content, cyberbullying, online abuse and excessive screen time.

For now, the government's Wednesday clarification indicates that there is no proposal under consideration to impose a blanket restriction on social media access for under-18 users. The Supreme Court proceedings, however, have brought renewed attention to how platforms verify age, handle accounts operated by minors and comply with Indian legal requirements. Any future changes to the rules would need to be formally notified by the government.

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