Goa’s state government is actively exploring a proposal to restrict social media access for users under 16, drawing inspiration from Australia’s new national legislation and global debates around youth digital safety. The move reflects heightened concern among Indian policymakers about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, screen time, and overall well-being in a country with more than a billion internet users.
If adopted, Goa — a relatively small coastal state with an estimated population of around 1.5 million — could become one of the first regions in India to consider such a targeted regulatory framework at the state level.
Why Goa Is Considering the Ban Now
The proposal is being studied by Goa’s Tourism and Information Technology department, with officials examining Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, which prohibits minors under 16 from holding accounts on major social platforms. Australia’s law has already led to the deactivation of millions of teen accounts since it took effect late last year, and has become a reference point for other jurisdictions grappling with similar issues.
According to Rohan Khaunte, Goa’s IT minister, the government is assessing whether a state-level legal framework could mirror Australia’s approach, but no final decision has been taken yet. “If possible, (we will) implement a similar ban on children below 16 for usage of social media,” he told reporters.
Parental and Public Concerns
Officials say the push is partly driven by parental complaints about excessive screen time and social media’s influence on children’s daily lives. Parents have flagged issues including distraction from studies, reduced family interaction, and exposure to online harms such as cyberbullying — themes that have increasingly shaped policy discussions globally.
In India, cyberbullying and online harassment statistics vary widely, but experts note that such harms are increasingly cited by concerned guardians and child welfare advocates.
Regulatory Context in India
Goa’s deliberations come amid parallel activity in Andhra Pradesh, where a panel of ministers has been set up to study global regulatory models, including Australia’s law, and recommend options for that state. At the federal level, India currently has no nationwide restriction on minors’ social media use, although platforms are expected to follow self-regulatory safeguards and parental control mechanisms.
Tech companies including Meta, Google and X operate at massive scale in India — a key growth market for user engagement and advertising — and would be directly affected by any age-based curbs. Analysts say that while age restrictions can limit access in formal channels, they can also push young users toward alternative platforms and unregulated spaces if not paired with broader digital safety strategies.
Global Comparisons and Trends
Australia is the most advanced example of comprehensive social media age restriction, but other countries are either considering or have introduced similar proposals. For instance:
- France approved a bill aimed at banning social media use for children under 15, though it must clear further legislative stages.
- Indonesia, Malaysia, and parts of Europe are monitoring Australia’s rollout and debating age verification mechanisms and platform responsibilities.
These international moves reflect a broader policy concern about balancing children’s online freedoms with digital safety, mental health, and protection against exploitation.
Challenges Ahead
Implementing such a ban in Goa would require navigating several legal and practical hurdles:
- Jurisdictional limits: Digital regulation is typically in the federal remit, and how a state law would interact with India’s national IT framework remains unclear.
- Age verification technology: Effective enforcement would depend on platforms’ ability to verify users’ ages, which raises privacy and technical complexity concerns.
- User behaviour: Restricting formal accounts may not fully prevent minors from using informal or offshore platforms behaving outside regulatory oversight.
Officials say the proposal is still under study, with discussions involving legal advisors, technologists, and child welfare experts expected before a formal policy or legislative draft is introduced ahead of Goa’s upcoming assembly session.
What Happens Next
For now, Goa’s initiative is at the exploratory stage. The government has not set timelines or published draft legislation, and public consultations may shape the eventual policy. The debate ignites broader questions about how Indian states and the central government should approach youth digital safety, platform accountability, and online freedoms in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing digital markets.
In the coming weeks and months, stakeholders across government, tech industry and civil society will be watching to see whether Goa transitions from study to statute — and how such a framework could influence national policy in India’s evolving digital governance landscape.
