New Delhi: After Andhra Pradesh, the Goa government is also mulling a ban on social media for children below the age of 16. The government is considering implementing an Australia-like law barring children under 16 years of age from using social media, according to Goa Tourism and Technology (IT) Minister Rohan Khaunte.
In Australia, the government has recently brought out legislation that would set an age limit of 16 years for children to start using social media, and hold platforms responsible for ensuring compliance.
Speaking to the media, Khaunte said, “Many parents have been complaining about their children not concentrating on studies as social media and some of these platforms are becoming a distraction for the kids and causing social implications.” Highlighting the concerns raised by parents, he said children are glued to mobile phones and social media, even during family time.
He further said that the officials are reviewing an Australia-style law and examining related policy papers from the country. He further said that a decision will be taken after talks with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, possibly before the next Assembly session. Khaunte also underlined that the aim is to help children focus on education and learning technology.
“Australia has brought in a law ensuring a ban on social media for children below the age of 16. It is something they have already done. Our (IT) department and officials have already started reviewing those particular papers. We are studying them,” he added.
“The personal space occupied by social media has become very large and is creating complexities for children. We are studying whether a state-wide ban is legally and practically possible,” he said.
Andhra Pradesh mulling Australia-like ban
The move follows a similar proposal by Andhra Pradesh. The state is studying Australia’s ban on children under 16 years of age from using social media and mulling a similar move, Nara Lokesh, the state minister in charge of technology and human resources, had said on Tuesday.
“As a state, we are studying Australia’s under-16 law, and yes, I believe we need to create a strong legal enactment,” Lokesh told Bloomberg News on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He further said that youngsters under a certain age should not be on social media “because they don’t understand what they are seeing.”
State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha also said that a committee has been appointed by the Andhra Pradesh government to examine the possibility of restricting or banning children below 16 years of age. The panel, comprising a Group of Ministers (GoM), will review existing laws, rules and guidelines applicable to online platforms.