Panaji, February 16 Goa Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Monday that his government is examining the possibility of restricting social media use for children under 16 in the coastal state, citing growing concerns about digital addiction, cyberbullying, and online safety risks.
The state plans to form a task force comprising representatives from academia, parent-teacher associations, industry, and government to study the issue and recommend a policy framework, he added.
Referring to global precedents such as Australia's move to ban social media access for children under 16, Khaunte said that the issue requires serious consideration in India and must be approached in a structured and consultative manner.
He said that sixteen is a "very vulnerable age" when children should focus on learning and overall development, but increasing instances of digital addiction, exposure to age-inappropriate content, anxiety, depression, and misuse of personal data have raised red flags.
"The state plans to form a task force comprising representatives from academia, parent-teacher associations, industry, and government to study the issue and recommend a policy framework. Any decision would have to be in alignment with central laws, including provisions under the Information Technology Act," he said.
"Our objective is not to rush into a decision but to examine how we can protect children under 16 from the risks of social media while promoting constructive and educational use of digital tools," Khaunte asserted.
