.png){kind=logo}
Meta has cautioned that Karnataka’s proposed ban on social media access for children aged under 16 could create unintended risks, arguing that blanket restrictions may push teenagers toward less regulated corners of the internet rather than improving online safety.
The Karnataka government issued a new rule that prohibits people under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. The government intends to solve problems that involve digital addiction, cyberbullying, and dangerous content access by minors through this announcement.
Siddaramaiah, the state chief minister, made this announcement during his state budget presentation. The announcement shows the government’s plan to control children’s online activities through stricter regulations.
The government has not provided any details about how it will enforce the social media usage ban for minors.
Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, warned that general social media bans would lead teenagers to less secure online areas.
The company reported that platform access restrictions would lead teenagers to visit unregulated websites, which do not have parental controls, content moderation, and reporting systems.
According to the company, restricting access to major platforms might drive teens to “unregulated sites or logged-out experiences” that lack built-in safety features such as parental controls, content moderation, and reporting tools.
Meta also pointed out that teenagers typically use multiple apps and digital services each week. Consequently, this may not have a substantial impact on their level of activity.
Instead, they suggested that there should be more parental control measures, along with design features appropriate for the age of the children, to allow parents to better control the use of social media.
The decision has created a discussion that technology experts, most especially those working in policy development, must evaluate. Some people argue that it may not be easy to enforce this ban because children will use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and other social media platforms that their friends do not know about. The supporters of this initiative claim that it has become essential because social media platforms create more serious problems for teenage users.
Karnataka has not established a deadline or design for the proposed restriction at this time. The ongoing debate will determine whether Karnataka establishes a new standard for handling social media use among children throughout India.
