The Karnataka authorities has introduced a proposal to ban social media use for kids under the age of 16 resulting from issues associated rising smartphone dependancy, on-line security dangers and extreme display screen publicity amongst younger customers.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement on Friday whereas presenting the state Funds for 2026–27 on the Vidhana Soudha. He mentioned the transfer is aimed toward stopping the hostile results of accelerating cell phone use on kids and defending younger minds from the destructive influence of social media.

If carried out, the coverage would make Karnataka the primary state in India to make a definitive announcement limiting social media use for minors underneath 16. Different states corresponding to Andhra Pradesh and Goa have earlier mentioned they’re inspecting related measures.

The proposal has been underneath dialogue inside the Karnataka authorities for a number of months. State IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge had earlier advised the Meeting that the federal government was learning methods to make sure accountable use of AI and social media amongst younger customers.

Well being Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had additionally raised issues concerning the well being influence of extreme display screen publicity. BJP MLA and former minister Suresh Kumar had urged the federal government to handle the difficulty, warning that unregulated social media use might hurt each schooling and household environments.

The Chief Minister had additionally held discussions with college vice chancellors on whether or not cell phone use needs to be restricted for kids under 16.

The problem of kids spending lengthy hours on smartphones has more and more involved educators and fogeys. Many specialists say extreme social media use can have an effect on focus, sleep patterns and psychological well-being. It could additionally scale back the time kids spend on research, bodily exercise and face-to-face interplay with household and pals.

College Training and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa had earlier mentioned on February 26 that the federal government had been contemplating such a restriction for a very long time and that consultations with college students, mother and father and specialists would assist form the ultimate determination. He additionally pointed to the function of oldsters, noting that many hand cell phones to kids to maintain them occupied, which will increase publicity to social media and different on-line distractions.

Karnataka’s transfer comes amid a wider world debate on regulating kids’s entry to social media. A number of nations are exploring restrictions to handle issues round display screen dependancy, on-line security and algorithm-driven content material publicity.

Australia has launched strict measures limiting social media access for youthful customers. The UK and Finland are additionally discussing safeguards. In elements of Europe, together with France and Spain, colleges have launched limits on smartphone use in school rooms to scale back distractions and enhance scholar focus.

AI has additional difficult the difficulty. AI-powered chatbots and advice algorithms can hold kids engaged for lengthy durations whereas gathering behavioural information. In some circumstances, specialists say such methods might inadvertently expose minors to dangerous content material or allow new types of manipulation.

On the similar time, digital platforms additionally present entry to studying assets, coding communities, artistic alternatives and even early entrepreneurial ventures for a lot of younger customers. Due to this twin function, specialists say blanket bans could also be troublesome to implement and will push kids towards unregulated platforms, digital personal networks (VPNs) or hidden accounts which can be tougher for fogeys and authorities to watch.