In Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a ban on the use of social media for individuals under the age of 16, aiming to mitigate its potential negative effects on children.
While many parents welcomed the move, they expressed concerns about its practicality.
Siddaramaiah stated that the ban would be implemented to prevent the adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children.
However, he did not specify the implementation details.
In January, Karnataka Minister for Electronics, IT/BT Priyank Kharge had informed the Legislative Assembly that the state government was considering measures to ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media, particularly among children.
The Economic Survey presented in Parliament in January also recommended limiting online teaching to avoid digital addiction.
Manohar N H, a resident of Jalahalli, said that restricting social media for children under 16 may be beneficial in some ways, but implementing it would be challenging.
Dr. Saritha Nagaraj, a consultant in psychology and child development at Motherhood Hospital, said that the move would reduce the risk of poor mental health among children and teenagers, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and body image issues.
Dr. Rakshay Shetty, a clinical director at Rainbow Children's Hospital, said that while there are disadvantages to excessive mobile use, it also provides practical utility for parents, teachers, and children.
He suggested a balanced approach, as a blanket ban may not be practical.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya welcomed the move, stating that he had raised the issue in parliament.
Upasna Dash, Founder and CEO of Jajabor Brand Consultancy, said that the move is likely to have ripple effects across the ecosystem and change the way advertisers access this age group.
Aparajita Bharti, Founding Partner at the Quantum Hub, expressed that a social media ban is unlikely to have the desired effect in India given the high incidence of shared device usage in households.