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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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Andhra Pradesh mulls Australia-like social media ban on under-16 users, sets up ministerial panel: What this means
Day after Nara Lokesh’s remarks in Davos, GoM led by him set up; has Home Minister Anita Vangalapudi, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, and Information Minister Kolusu Parthasarathi on board
·India
Read Full ArticleAndhra Pradesh to ban social media for under-16s like Australia? Minister Nara Lokesh says, 'I believe we need to...'
Nara Lokesh stated that youngsters below a certain age should be kept away from using such platforms as they do not fully comprehend the content they are reading or watching.
·New Delhi, India
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Total News Sources20
Leaning Left4Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Left
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Left
45% Left
L 45%
C 22%
R 33%
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