Will India Ban Facebook, Instagram for Children Under 16 Like Australia?
PM Modi praised Australia's social media ban for children under 16, sparking discussion on whether India could adopt similar rules for Facebook and Instagram. However, the Centre has confirmed no official proposal exists yet to restrict minors from social media platforms in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments praising Australia's social media restrictions for children under 16 have sparked fresh discussion over whether India could introduce similar rules. The Prime Minister said the Australian government's move to shield children from the "negative elements" of social media was important and India could learn from it.
His statement has raised the possibility of a proposed social media policy in India that takes age into consideration. However, the Centre has no plans to introduce a proposal or law that would prohibit minors under 16 from using social media platforms. At this time, there is no official proposal to impose such restrictions across the country.
PM Modi Praises Australia's Move
Modi noted that the Australian government's move to restrict social media for children was aimed at shielding them from online harm. He added that India could benefit from learning from Australia's experience and implementation. While the issue of children's online safety is once again being discussed, there is no sign from the government that it is considering a strategy like this. List of Countries Banning Social Media for Children.
Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban
The Australian government's national social media restrictions have been in effect since December 2025. Under the law, social media companies must take reasonable steps to prevent users below the age of 16 from creating or maintaining accounts.
The restrictions cover platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Reddit, Threads, Twitch, and YouTube. However, they are not applied to messaging services like WhatsApp and Messenger, or to YouTube Kids.
The law places compliance responsibility on social media companies rather than users. If children or parents breach the restrictions, they do not face penalties. Parents also cannot give consent to allow children under 16 to access the covered platforms. Why Has UAE Banned Children Under 15 From Using Social Media?
Is India Planning A Similar Ban?
There is no official confirmation of India's plans for an under-16 social media ban at this time. PM Modi said, "India can learn from how the Australian government is doing it," but no draft policy or legal framework has been announced on the issue so far.
If India ever implements such restrictions, experts say some of the most important hurdles would include verifying age, ensuring user privacy, enforcement, and determining which platforms to include. For now, the matter remains at a policy discussion level, with no word on a nationwide ban.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2026 03:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
