Goa, India’s top tourist destination, is exploring a ban on social media for children, echoing a move recently implemented in Australia, amid growing concerns over mental health risks among young internet users.
India, home to more than a billion internet users, is a key market for tech giants like Meta, Google’s YouTube, and X. Despite this, the country has no national restrictions on social media for minors, and there are no indications that the federal government plans to introduce any.
Rohan Khaunte, Goa’s minister for information technology, told reporters the state is reviewing Australia’s legislation as a model. “If possible, we will implement a similar ban for children under 16,” he said. “Details will follow.”
Andhra Pradesh, India’s populous southern state, has also indicated it is exploring similar restrictions. By contrast, Goa is India’s smallest state by area, with an estimated population of 1.5 million.
India’s IT ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Google and X also did not provide immediate responses.
Meta said it supports parental oversight laws but cautioned that bans should not drive teens to less regulated platforms. “We will comply with social media bans, but with teens using roughly 40 apps weekly, targeting a handful of companies won’t keep them safe,” a Meta spokesperson told news agency Reuters.
Andhra Pradesh has reportedly formed a panel of senior ministers to study global regulations and submit recommendations within a month.
Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16 last year, deactivating 4.7 million teen accounts in its first month. France, Indonesia, and Malaysia are among other countries monitoring the Australian approach with an eye toward potential adoption.
