Karnataka to ban social media use for children under 16: CM Siddaramaiah
India Today
The Karnataka government plans to ban social media use for children under 16, amid rising concerns over smartphone addiction, online safety risks, and excessive screen exposure among young users. The announcement was made by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the 2026–27 state Budget on Friday.
Karnataka will ban social media for children below the age of 16 years, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday. The ban on social media is aimed at preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, CM Siddaramaiah said while presenting the annual state Budget.
The move makes Karnataka the first state in the country to make the most definitive announcement on the topic of barring social media use among children. Andhra Pradesh and Goa are two other states to have previously said that they are considering similar moves.
The idea of regulating children’s access to social media had been under discussion within the Karnataka government for some time.
State IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge had told the Assembly earlier this year that the government was examining possible measures to ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media among young users.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had also expressed concerns about the impact of excessive screen exposure on children.
BJP MLA and former minister Suresh Kumar had urged the government to take the issue seriously, warning that unregulated social media exposure could harm both education and family environments.
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