Goa govt considers copying Australia-style social media ban for children under 16: Report

The Goa government is reportedly considering a blanket ban on social media use for children below the age of 16, becoming the second Indian state after Andhra Pradesh to explore such restrictions amid rising global concern over the impact of digital platforms on adolescents.

According to a Reuters report, Goa’s Tourism and IT Minister Rohan Khaunte said the state government is studying Australia’s recently enacted regulatory framework to assess whether similar measures can be implemented locally.

“If possible, we will implement a similar ban on children below 16 for the usage of social media,” Khaunte said, adding that the proposal is still under evaluation and details will be shared after further review.

Australia last month passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, which prohibits social media use for users under 16 across the country. Under the law, platforms are required to put in place mechanisms to prevent minors from accessing their services, close loopholes, and remove underage accounts.

Notably, Australia became the first country to enforce such a nationwide restriction, leading to the deactivation of nearly 4.7 million teenage accounts within the first month, according to official estimates.

Goa’s move comes as India grapples with growing concerns around excessive screen time, mental health, online bullying and social isolation among young users.

India is one of the world’s largest internet markets, with more than a billion users, but currently has no national-level restrictions or formal guidelines governing minors’ access to social media platforms.

The discussion has gained traction beyond Goa. Last week, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh said during the World Economic Forum that the state is reviewing steps to regulate social media access for children. Lokesh had indicated that the Andhra Pradesh government would work with the Centre to formulate a framework that ensures the safety and wellbeing of minors, acknowledging that the issue may fall under the central government’s jurisdiction.

Media reports have also suggested that Andhra Pradesh has constituted a panel of senior ministers to study international models and submit recommendations within a month.

In India, concerns around cyberbullying have added urgency to the debate. A 2024 study by the National Institutes of Health found that the prevalence of cyberbullying among adolescents in India ranges between 3.3% and 60.56%, with wide variation linked to age, geography and social context. The study noted that despite the variability, cyberbullying among Indian adolescents is a persistent and growing issue, likely to intensify alongside deeper digitisation.