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Andhra Govt Considers Ban on Social Media for Children Under 16: Nara Lokesh

The Andhra Pradesh government aims to protect children under 16 by studying Australia’s recent ban on social media use to reduce exposure to harmful content, IT minister said.

  • On January 22, 2026, Andhra Pradesh IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh said a Group of Ministers is studying a proposal to restrict social media access for children below the age of 16.
  • Lokesh said young users are often ill-equipped to process online content, prompting officials to seek legal safeguards beyond parental oversight to protect children below the age of 16.
  • Australia's December 10, 2025 law requires platforms to deactivate under-16s' accounts on TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, block new ones, and limit data use to protect well-being.
  • Legal experts caution state enforcement of age limits may face constitutional and verification challenges, require Centre approval under the IT Act, as petitions await Indian courts.
  • Amid recent years, the proposal places Andhra Pradesh among governments reassessing digital impacts as India updates legal frameworks, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
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Bloomberg broke the news in United States on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
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