India Considering Age-Based Limits on Social Media Platforms

India’s chief economic adviser, V. Anantha Nageswaran, proposed setting age-based limits on access to social media platforms he termed “predatory” in their approach to keeping users engaged online. This recommendation could signal a significant shift for companies like Meta and YouTube as India becomes the world’s second-largest smartphone market with 750 million devices and a billion internet users.

The proposal is part of India’s annual economic survey, published on Thursday. Nageswaran recommended that families promote screen-time limits and shared offline activities. He also suggested considering policies for age-based access to platforms where “younger users are more vulnerable to compulsive use and harmful content.” Platforms should be held responsible for enforcing age verification and adopting age-appropriate settings.

Such recommendations align with a growing global trend; Australia was the first nation last year to ban social media for children younger than 16. France’s National Assembly recently backed legislation proposing that all under-15s be barred from social media, while Britain, Denmark, and Greece are also considering similar bans. India does not currently set a minimum age for access.

India’s survey, which cites DataReportal as showing YouTube has 500 million users in the country, Facebook at 403 million, and Instagram with 481 million, highlights social media’s critical role in Indian digital culture. Meta, parent company of YouTube, and Alphabet (YouTube) have not yet responded to requests for comment.

The recommendations are non-binding but reflect discussions within Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Previous policy changes have included tax reforms, easing Chinese investment restrictions, and enhancing digital infrastructure. New Delhi has long been at odds with social media giants like Meta over issues such as content moderation, local data storage requirements, and user safety.

In a press briefing, Nageswaran described these platforms as “predatory” for maximizing engagement time. He noted that algorithms are particularly targeted at teens between 15 to 24 years old. The recommendation comes amid growing concerns about the impact of digital addiction on young users’ academic performance and productivity due to distractions, sleep debt, and reduced focus.

Indian states like Goa and Andhra Pradesh have already begun studying Australia’s regulatory framework for potential bans, citing issues with screen time usage among children. Nageswaran expressed satisfaction that these state governments are considering age-based restrictions.

While some activists and tech experts advocate for measures aimed at helping both children and parents manage their social media use healthily, they caution against enforcing strict curbs since younger users might circumvent such measures using fake IDs.