The Karnataka government will ban children under 16 from using social media, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Friday while presenting the state budget for 2026-27.
The Congress leader said the decision was aimed at protecting children from the harmful effects of excessive mobile and social media use. He did not specify when the ban would come into effect.
If implemented, Karnataka would be the first Indian state to introduce such a restriction. In 2025, the Andhra Pradesh government had indicated it was considering a similar measure for minors. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” said Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh’s IT minister, welcoming the proposal.
Siddaramaiah’s announcement follows consultations with vice-chancellors at the Karnataka State Higher Education Council on restricting mobile phone and social media use among children. He cited examples from countries like Australia, which in December 2025 blocked social media access for users under 16.
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act requires parental consent for processing children’s personal data. Advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation warned that blanket bans may not address underlying issues and could raise privacy concerns, while limiting children’s access to educational and informational content.