Karnataka set to ban social media for children under 16: What the new rule could mean

Karnataka plans to ban social media for children under 16 to curb addiction and protect mental health, raising big questions on safety, rights and enforcement.

Karnataka is moving ahead with a plan to ban social media use for children below 16, in a move the state government says is aimed at protecting young minds from the harmful effects of excessive screen time and online content. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the proposal while presenting the 2026–27 state Budget, linking it to growing worries over addiction, mental health and falling attention spans among school-going children.

Under the planned framework, children younger than 16 would not be allowed to use social media platforms, with the state likely to work with schools, parents and service providers to shape how the ban is implemented on the ground. The move follows months of debate inside the government, where ministers and experts have flagged how constant exposure to apps, notifications and short‑form videos is affecting behaviour, sleep and academic performance.

Officials have indicated that Karnataka is also studying global practices and legal models to design age‑appropriate online access instead of a purely symbolic ban. An expert committee is expected to examine issues such as enforcement, privacy, parental consent and the role of tech companies before the final rules are notified. While many parents and educators have welcomed tighter controls, critics warn that any blanket ban will be hard to enforce and could raise concerns around digital rights and inequality in access to technology.

If implemented carefully, the policy could spur a wider national conversation on how India balances child safety, education and digital freedom in an increasingly online childhood.