The Karnataka government has proposed a ban on social media use for children below the age of 16 as part of its 2026–27 Budget. The proposal seeks to address concerns over the adverse effects of excessive mobile phone usage among minors.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the measure during his Budget speech. The official Budget document states that the proposal aims to protect children from the growing impact of prolonged exposure to mobile devices and social media platforms.
The document notes: “With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16.”
Proposal Linked to India’s Data Protection Framework
The proposed restriction intersects with India’s existing data protection regime under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025.
Section 9 of the DPDP Act mandates that data fiduciaries must obtain verifiable parental consent before processing the personal data of children. It places responsibility on online platforms to ensure that a child’s personal data is processed only with the consent of a parent or lawful guardian.
DPDP Rules Require Verifiable Parental Consent
The DPDP Rules, 2025 prescribe mechanisms for obtaining and verifying parental consent.
Rule 10 requires platforms to implement technical and organisational safeguards to ensure that valid parental consent is obtained before processing children’s personal data. Additionally, platforms must verify that the person providing consent is an identifiable adult.
The Rules allow reliance on reliable identity and age credentials issued by authorised entities, including government-recognised identity systems and Digital Locker services.
Under this framework, social media platforms are already required to introduce age-verification systems and parental consent mechanisms for minors.
State Proposal Adds Additional Layer of Regulation
The Karnataka government’s proposal may introduce an additional regulatory layer at the State level.
While the central framework focuses on data protection and parental consent, the State’s proposal seeks to directly prohibit social media usage by children below 16 years of age.
The government is expected to frame detailed rules for implementation. These may include age-verification mechanisms and compliance requirements for social media platforms.
Measures to Address Drug Abuse in Educational Institutions
The Budget speech also addressed concerns regarding drug abuse in educational institutions.
The government stated that schools, colleges and universities play a critical role in shaping students’ health, character and future. To tackle drug abuse, the State plans to implement awareness programmes, enforce stricter discipline, and establish dedicated counselling and support centres within campuses.
