While the Budget speech outlines the policy intent, the State government is expected to frame detailed rules for its implementation, including mechanisms for age verification and ensuring compliance by social media platforms.
The Karnataka government has announced a ban on social media use for children below the age of 16, citing concerns about the harmful impact of excessive mobile phone usage on young users.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement during his budget speech.
The State’s 2026–27 Budget document also outlined the proposal, stating that the measure is intended to protect children from the harmful effects linked to increased exposure to mobile phones and social media platforms.
“With the objective of preventing the adverse impact of rising mobile phone usage among children, the use of social media will be banned for those below the age of 16,” the budget document stated.
The proposal intersects with India’s data protection framework under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025.
Under Section 9 of the DPDP Act, a data fiduciary is required to obtain verifiable consent from a parent or lawful guardian before processing the personal data of a child. The Rules framed under the law further specify the manner in which such consent must be verified.
Rule 10 of the DPDP Rules, 2025 mandates that platforms adopt technical and organisational measures to ensure parental consent is obtained before processing a child’s personal data. It also requires platforms to verify that the person providing consent is an identifiable adult, using reliable identity and age credentials issued by authorised entities, such as government-recognised identity systems or Digital Locker services.
The legal framework therefore already requires online platforms, including social media companies, to implement age-verification and parental consent mechanisms before allowing minors to create accounts.
Karnataka’s proposal to ban social media use for those under 16 may add an additional layer of regulation at the State level, going beyond the central framework that primarily focuses on parental consent and data protection safeguards.
Apart from the proposed social media restriction, the budget speech also highlighted the role of educational institutions in shaping students’ well-being. It noted that schools, colleges and universities play a crucial role in shaping the health, character and future of students, and said the government would introduce measures to curb drug abuse on campuses.
While the Budget speech outlines the policy intent, the State government is expected to frame detailed rules for its implementation, including mechanisms for age verification and ensuring compliance by social media platforms.
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