BJP MP lists private bill on social media ban for children

A private member's Bill titled 'Safeguarding Healthy Internet Environments for Little Digital-Natives (Shield) Bill, 2025' was introduced by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Baijayant Panda in the Lok Sabha. The Bill, drafted a year ago after consultations with stakeholders, aimed to restrict social media access for children under 13 years old.

According to Panda, many social media algorithms are designed to foster addiction and reinforce extreme viewpoints, which can be particularly harmful for young teenagers and children. The Bill mandates that no child under 13 years old can create an account on social media or online gaming platforms without parental consent. It also requires intermediaries to provide parental control dashboards and a 'Report Child Harm' reporting button.

If harmful content is not removed within 36 hours (or 24 hours for child sexual material), the intermediary could face penalties, including up to ₹10 crore in fines and suspension of services. Violations by designated officers could result in imprisonment and fines. The Bill also includes an annual child safety and risk assessment process to identify exposure risks related to content algorithms and interactions.