Goa, one of India’s most popular tourist destinations, is considering a proposal to restrict social media access for children under 16, following Australia’s recent move to limit youth use of major platforms. State officials say the step is being explored as part of broader concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health in a country with more than a billion internet users.
What Officials Are Proposing
Rohan Khaunte, Goa’s minister for information technology and electronics, said state authorities are studying Australia’s legislation to learn how to regulate minors’ access to social platforms. "If possible, (we will) implement a similar ban on children below 16 for usage of social media," Khaunte told reporters, adding that details will be released later.
Regional Momentum
Another southern state, Andhra Pradesh — home to more than 53 million people — has also signaled interest in similar measures and has formed a panel of senior ministers to study international approaches and deliver recommendations within a month. By contrast, Goa is small, with an estimated population of about 1.5 million.
Responses From Tech Firms And Risks
India’s federal Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Google and X also did not immediately reply to Reuters inquiries about the proposed plan.
Meta said it supports laws that strengthen parental oversight but cautioned that blunt bans could push teenagers toward less regulated—and potentially less safe—platforms.
“We’ll comply with social media bans, but with teens using roughly 40 apps weekly, targeting a handful of companies won’t keep them safe,” a Meta spokesperson told Reuters by email.
International Context
Last year, Australia became the first country to bar social media use for children under 16 and reportedly deactivated 4.7 million teenage accounts in its first month of enforcement. Several other countries, including France, Indonesia and Malaysia, are closely watching Australia’s rollout as they consider whether to adopt similar rules.
Reporting: Arpan Chaturvedi. Editing: Clarence Fernandez and Timothy Heritage.
