Amaravati : The Andhra Pradesh government is considering a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, inspired by Australia’s recent restrictions aimed at protecting minors online. State IT Minister Nara Lokesh told the state was closely studying Australia’s approach. As a state, we are studying Australia’s under-16 law, and yes, I believe we need to create a strong legal enactment, he said.
Australia had announced plans to prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, citing growing concerns over mental health, online harm, cyberbullying, and addictive algorithms. The move followed mounting evidence linking excessive social media use among children to anxiety, depression, and self-harm. The restrictions were eventually implemented from December 10, 2025, and platforms have since been deactivating or removing accounts they identify as under 16.
TNM that the Andhra Pradesh government was seriously examining whether a similar framework could be adapted at the state level. “The leadership feels strongly about the impact of social media on children. Officials are closely studying the Australian model and exploring how such a regulation could be implemented in Andhra Pradesh,” a source said. If Andhra Pradesh implements such a restriction, it will be the first state in India to acknowledge the harm caused by the exposure of social media to minors.
He added that the Centre had not yet expressed any opinions on regulating social media use for teenagers, due to which the burden fell on state governments to do so. Earlier this month, Lokesh had also asserted that the state government would strongly act against individuals and groups spreading malicious and obscene content on social media. If it comes into force, the Andhra Pradesh government’s new social media policy would be the first in the country to start tackling the mental health issues arising out of minors using social media.
This comes more than a month after Australia enforced its Online Safety Amendment Act on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch. The stated aim of the move was to protect minors’ mental health, and to keep them safe from online harm, cyberbullying, catfishing, and addictive algorithms. As a result, the platforms were forced to implement age verification methods to ensure teens under 16 are unable to create an account.
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