Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced that children below 13 years of age will be barred from using social media in the state, citing the need to protect youngsters.
According to the Chief Minister, the policy will be implemented in phases over the next 90 days. The government is also considering whether the restriction should be extended to children aged 13 to 16.
The move comes amid growing concerns over increasing mobile phone use among children, including very young kids spending time on games and short-form videos on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Reports also point to children accessing phones without parents’ knowledge and becoming dependent on screens.
Naidu said further steps would be taken after consultations and policy studies, with the aim of preventing the harmful effects linked to rising mobile phone use among minors. The report also notes that Karnataka has announced plans to ban social media for those under 16.
