India's Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran has suggested implementing age-based restrictions on social media access to combat digital addiction among children. This proposal, revealed in the annual economic survey, aligns India with a growing global trend of regulating children's online activity.
The CEA's recommendation stems from concerns about the vulnerability of younger users to compulsive social media use and exposure to harmful content. The survey, presented on Thursday, highlights the potential for "digital addiction" to lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and cyberbullying, particularly among those aged 15-24. It specifically mentions compulsive scrolling and social comparison as factors linked to anxiety and depressive symptoms. The survey also raises concerns about gaming disorder, online gambling, and excessive video consumption.
Nageswaran suggested families should establish screen-time limits and encourage offline activities. The economic survey also suggests promoting simpler devices like basic phones or education-only tablets with enforced usage limits and content filters. It also pushes for online platforms to be responsible for age verification and age-appropriate defaults, particularly for social media, gambling apps, and targeted advertising. The survey further proposes parental workshops in schools and community centers to educate guardians on setting healthy boundaries and using parental control tools.
Several countries are already taking action on this issue. Australia has enforced a social media ban for children under 16. France's National Assembly has supported legislation to ban children under 15 from social media. Other countries like Britain, Denmark, Spain and Greece are also studying the issue. Denmark's government is planning to ban social media access for children under 15, requiring parental consent for those aged 13 and up.
The Karnataka High Court has also suggested that the Indian government consider implementing age limits for social media users, proposing the use of Aadhaar cards for age verification.
While the CEA's recommendations are not binding, they are expected to be taken seriously by the Indian government. India is a key growth market for social media apps, with a large number of internet and smartphone users. The country's data protection framework already mandates that tech companies offering services to those under 18 seek parental consent and prohibits behavioral tracking and targeted advertising to children. Andhra Pradesh is also considering introducing regulations to restrict social media access for minors.
