Australia’s new law banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms has sparked a global conversation about online safety. With Indian children spending hours daily on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, this move raises important questions about the future of digital well-being in India.
By Navin Upadhyay
Australia’s decision to restrict children under 16 from accessing social media platforms is likely to resonate in India, where children and adolescents are increasingly spending significant amounts of time on social media. A study by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and KPMG revealed that Indian children, particularly those aged between 13 and 18, spend an average of 3 to 4 hours per day on social media platforms.
Australia’s Bold Step
In a landmark move, Australia has passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media, set to take effect in late 2025. This decision marks one of the most stringent regulations targeting tech giants globally. Driven by concerns over the safety and well-being of children in the digital space, Australia’s move has sparked a worldwide conversation about the need for more robust regulation of social media, particularly for younger users. This shift is likely to have a strong echo in countries like India, where social media usage among children is on the rise, prompting a broader discussion on the future of online safety and the digital well-being of young people.
Australia’s new law will prohibit minors from using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, and X, with exceptions only for certain health and educational services, including YouTube, WhatsApp, Messenger Kids, and Google Classroom. The law also includes hefty fines for tech giants that fail to comply, potentially up to $49.5 million. This move is aimed at combating the growing concerns over cyberbullying, privacy issues, and the mental health challenges posed by excessive social media use among children.
The law mandates that platforms must prevent users under 16 from logging in, with a trial phase set to begin in January 2025. In essence, this law aims to restore parental control and ensure that children’s online experiences remain safer, healthier, and more age-appropriate.
India’s Growing Social Media Usage Among Children
In India, the situation is strikingly different. Social media platforms have become a significant part of everyday life for millions of children and adolescents. According to various studies, children as young as 10 to 12 years old are using social media for an average of 3 to 4 hours per day. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp are particularly popular among young Indians, with TikTok and Snapchat also gaining widespread usage, despite the latter’s temporary ban in the country.
The surge in social media usage among children has raised alarm among educators, child psychologists, and child protection advocates. Prolonged exposure to social media can contribute to issues such as cyberbullying, mental health disorders, social isolation, and addiction. As children are often not fully equipped to handle online interactions, their exposure to inappropriate content, privacy breaches, and online predators has become a growing concern in India.
Can Australia’s Approach Work in India?
Australia’s bold step to restrict social media use for minors has triggered a renewed debate on the need for similar regulations in India. While there is no direct move yet in India to impose a social media ban for children, the country’s digital landscape may soon have to reckon with a similar shift in policy due to mounting concerns.
India’s young population is increasingly becoming more tech-savvy, with internet penetration growing rapidly in both urban and rural areas. However, the lack of robust regulatory frameworks has allowed tech giants to prioritize profits over the safety of young users. India does have laws that regulate child protection and online safety, but enforcement remains inconsistent, and the legal framework is often seen as outdated or inadequate in the face of rapidly evolving technology.
What India Needs to Learn from Australia
India can learn valuable lessons from Australia’s regulatory approach to social media use among children. Some key takeaways include:
- Age Restrictions and Parental Consent: While India has existing age restrictions for social media platforms, such as the requirement for users to be 13 years or older, these rules are often bypassed. India could benefit from a more comprehensive enforcement of age limits, alongside parental consent mechanisms that ensure children are accessing platforms that are safe and appropriate for their age.
- Stricter Enforcement of Online Safety Laws: Australia’s approach requires tech companies to comply with stringent laws or face severe penalties. India could follow a similar model by holding platforms accountable for failing to protect minors and ensuring that they adhere to local privacy and data protection standards.
- Promoting Digital Literacy: Educating children and parents about digital safety, privacy, and responsible online behavior is crucial. While a ban may help curb immediate threats, long-term change in online behavior can only come through digital literacy programs that empower users to make informed decisions about their online presence.
- Addressing Mental Health Concerns: With rising concerns about the mental health of children due to social media addiction, India needs to invest in more research and mental health initiatives tailored to the digital age. By promoting a healthier balance between screen time and physical activity, India could mitigate the adverse effects of social media use on young minds.
Challenges and Roadblocks
While the idea of implementing an Australia-style ban on social media for children in India sounds appealing to many, it is not without its challenges. First, there is the question of how feasible it would be to enforce such a law in a country as vast and diverse as India. With the sheer number of social media accounts being created under fake identities, enforcing age restrictions and verifying the ages of users could prove difficult.
Moreover, India’s young population often relies on social media for education, entertainment, and social connection. The recent rise in online learning platforms and digital classrooms during the pandemic demonstrated the importance of the internet in children’s education. Any social media regulations would have to carefully balance safety with accessibility to these essential services.
Finally, tech giants may resist such regulations due to concerns over user engagement and revenue. India would need to work closely with these companies to create a framework that protects children without stifling innovation or access to beneficial content.
The Global Context: Europe and Other Nations Take Action
While Australia has become one of the leaders in regulating children’s social media use, other countries have also been exploring similar measures. The European Union, for instance, has already established parental consent requirements for the processing of children’s personal data. However, individual member states have the authority to set their own age limits, with some choosing to lower the threshold to 13.
In the UK, although there are no plans to introduce a ban similar to Australia’s, the government is committed to ensuring online safety for children. Digital Minister Peter Kyle has emphasized the importance of reviewing smartphone and social media usage, particularly its impact on children. As part of this, the UK’s Ofcom regulator is set to enforce stricter regulations under the Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, which will also focus on setting more robust age restrictions for social platforms.
Norway and France: Raising the Bar for Children’s Social Media Access
Norway has proposed raising the age at which children can consent to social media use, suggesting an increase from 13 to 15. While parents would still be able to grant consent for younger children, the move signals the country’s intent to make social media safer for minors. France has similarly enacted a law requiring parental consent for children under 15 to create accounts on social platforms. However, enforcement has been slow, with some technical hurdles still in place.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite these efforts, critics argue that current regulations are insufficient and that many children under the legal age are still finding ways to access social media platforms. For example, data from various European countries indicates that a significant number of children under 13 are actively using social media despite the legal age limits.
In Germany, minors aged 13 to 16 are allowed to use social media only with parental consent, but advocates for child protection argue that this system lacks the necessary enforcement mechanisms. Belgium and Italy have also enacted age limits, but these laws are not always fully implemented or consistently monitored.
A Global Movement for Safer Online Spaces for Children
The growing global consensus is clear: children’s access to social media needs to be more tightly controlled to protect their safety. Australia’s upcoming law, while one of the most aggressive, is part of a broader international movement to mitigate the risks that come with social media exposure. Whether it’s through age restrictions, parental consent requirements, or outright bans, governments worldwide are taking steps to address the complex issue of children’s online safety.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the aim remains the same: to ensure that the digital spaces children inhabit are safe, educational, and free from harmful influences. As the regulatory landscape evolves, the focus will continue to be on finding a balance between allowing access to necessary online resources while protecting the most vulnerable from exploitation and harm.
Conclusion
Australia’s decision to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms is a significant step in safeguarding young people from the potential harms of online spaces. In India, where the number of children using social media is on the rise, the debate around online safety is becoming increasingly urgent. While a complete ban may not be immediately practical in India, there is a pressing need for stricter regulations, better enforcement, and a focus on digital literacy to ensure that children’s digital lives remain safe, healthy, and enriching.
As countries like Australia take decisive action, India may soon find itself at a crossroads where stricter regulations around social media use for children are no longer a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’.
