India Must Introduce Age Restrictions for Social Media Access, Urges Economic Adviser

The economic adviser to the Indian government has called for a stricter regulatory approach toward social media platforms, emphasizing the need to implement age-based restrictions to safeguard young users. Highlighting the growing concerns around mental health, misinformation, and online exploitation, the adviser stressed that children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of unrestricted social media exposure. This proposal aligns with global trends aiming to balance digital freedom with the protection of minors.

Key points outlined include:

• Mandatory verification systems to ensure users meet minimum age requirements.
• Collaboration with tech companies to develop safer online environments for younger demographics.
• Educational campaigns targeted at parents and guardians to raise awareness about social media risks.

The economic adviser believes these measures could contribute to fostering healthier digital habits and ultimately support India’s broader goal of inclusive and responsible technological growth.

In response to growing concerns over the impact of unrestricted social media use on the mental health of young individuals, policy experts have emphasized the need for stringent, age-specific regulations. Recent recommendations from economic advisers highlight that unrestricted digital access can exacerbate issues such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation among youth. Implementing age-based restrictions aims to create a safer online environment, where young users engage with digital platforms more responsibly and with adequate supervision.

Key policy measures proposed include:

• Introducing mandatory digital literacy programs tailored for different age groups to equip youth with critical thinking skills.
• Enforcing social media companies to verify user ages rigorously to prevent underage access.
• Limiting the exposure of vulnerable youth to potentially harmful content through algorithmic adjustments.
• Supporting mental health initiatives integrated with digital platforms to provide accessible assistance.

To address growing concerns over digital wellbeing, experts propose a tiered age-verification system integrated directly into social media platforms. This could involve mandatory ID authentication or linkage with national digital identity frameworks, allowing users to access content aligned with their age group. Social media companies might introduce differentiated content filters or limited feature access for younger users, such as restricted messaging or usage duration caps. Additionally, collaboration with regulatory authorities to enforce compliance and penalize fake profiles could reinforce these efforts, ensuring a safer online ecosystem for India’s vast youth population.

Implementing such age-based restrictions is expected to yield significant social impacts across the country. Some potential outcomes include:

• Reduced exposure to harmful or misleading content for minors, promoting healthier digital habits.
• Enhanced parental control and oversight, empowering families to guide children’s online experiences.
• Possible challenges for social media firms in balancing user privacy with verification demands.
• An opportunity to curb digital addiction by regulating screen time for vulnerable age groups.

While the approach may face initial resistance from both users and platform operators, advocates argue that tailored regulations could foster a safer and more responsible social media environment across India’s diverse digital landscape.