MeitY consultation says blanket social media ban for children won’t be effective

A consultation held by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has concluded that a blanket ban on social media for children would not be effective. The meeting, held on August 20, brought together representatives from MeitY, social impact consultancy Space2Grow, and civil society organizations to discuss online child safety.

The consultation, originally scheduled for July 27, was postponed due to the monsoon session of Parliament. MeitY Secretary S Krishnan headed the discussion, focusing on whether a new chapter in the Information Technology Act, a separate law, or guidelines from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) would be the most effective solution.

NCPCR is currently developing a social media code of conduct for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X, and Snapchat, with the aim of strengthening safeguards for children online. The code, prepared in consultation with MeitY, DoT, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), social media companies, and civil society organizations, could recommend prosecution under existing laws if violations of children's rights are found.

Civil society organizations and technology policy think tanks advocated for a "safety by design" principle for social media platforms, with the government monitoring compliance against a legally binding framework. The discussion also highlighted concerns beyond social media, including AI chatbots and gaming platforms that may expose children to age-inappropriate content.

The organizations shared data on the use and effectiveness of parental controls, and proposed conducting India's own longitudinal research on children's internet use and online harms. The consultation emphasized the importance of involving children as rights-bearers in the discussions, rather than solely viewing them as victims.