Will India Ban Social Media Accounts for Under-18 Users Under New Rules?
The Centre plans to amend the Information Technology Intermediary Rules to prevent children under 18 from independently opening social media accounts. The move follows a Supreme Court hearing on digital child safety, with the government agreeing that platforms should enforce an 18-year age threshold through a statutory mechanism.
The central government has informed the Supreme Court that it plans to introduce statutory amendments to prevent children under 18 years of age from independently opening and operating social media accounts. The proposed legal step aims to establish a mandatory framework ensuring digital intermediaries enforce strict age verification thresholds.
The development transpired during a judicial session addressing digital child safety and online vulnerabilities. As per a report by Times of India, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant that agreements entered into by minors are legally void contracts, meaning intermediaries must be legally barred from enrolling children. CEC, EC Appointment Law: Supreme Court Delivers Split Verdict, CJI to Consider Constitution Bench.
Enforcing Statutory Compliance for Intermediaries
During the proceedings, the bench emphasized that digital platforms operating within the country must conform strictly to domestic legal standards rather than importing foreign operational norms. The government concurred that existing guidelines require formal statutory backing to compel tech companies to reconfigure their registration architectures.
While educational platforms and specific academic websites may remain accessible through explicit parental consent, standard commercial social networks will face stringent restrictions. The proposed amendments to the Information Technology Intermediary Rules intend to create clear legal liability for platforms failing to implement robust verification gates.
Addressing Digital Risks and Online Safety
Legal counsels and petitioner organizations have repeatedly highlighted the multi-faceted dangers confronting young users in unregulated digital environments. These concerns include exposure to behavioral profiling, cyberbullying, data exploitation, and inappropriate content. PM Narendra Modi Ranks No 1 in Social Media Performance Report Presented at Cabinet Meeting.
The Supreme Court has asked the administration to formalize the statutory mechanism and submit a comprehensive response detailing the implementation timeline. The upcoming regulatory modifications mark a major shift toward tightening accountability across major technology platforms operating in India.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2026 03:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
