Andhra Pradesh Moves to Replicate Australia's Social Media Ban for Minors
In a significant development, the Andhra Pradesh government has initiated steps to explore the feasibility of implementing a social media ban for children under 16 years of age, mirroring Australia's recent legislation. This move comes one month after Australia enforced its pioneering ban, sparking global discussions on digital safety for youth.
Formation of Group of Ministers to Study Australian Model
The state government has constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh. This committee is tasked with thoroughly examining Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, which came into effect on December 10, 2025, after a one-year transition period. The GoM will assess the potential for replicating such measures in Andhra Pradesh, considering local legal and social contexts.
How Australia's Social Media Ban Operates
The Australian law mandates a minimum age of 16 years for holding accounts on regulated social media platforms. Notably, it does not penalise children or their parents for bypassing the ban; instead, it places liability on technology companies. Platforms that fail to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from creating accounts face hefty fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (approximately Rs 270 crore).
The ban applies to platforms primarily designed for online social interaction, including:
- TikTok
- Snapchat
- X (formerly Twitter)
Initially, YouTube was considered for an exemption due to its educational value, but it was included following regulatory advice about algorithmic risks. However, exemptions are granted for:
- Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger
- Online gaming platforms such as Roblox
- Educational tools including Google Classroom and YouTube Kids
Mental Health Concerns Driving Legislation
According to the Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, this legislation aims to address the mental health crisis among teenagers. The push for the ban gained momentum after South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas's wife read Jonathan Haidt's book The Anxious Generation, which links increased social media usage with rising mental illness in youth. A government-commissioned study in 2025 found that nearly two-thirds of children aged 10 to 15 had been exposed to harmful content online.
Public support for the amendment was high, with a YouGov poll in November 2024 showing 77% of Australians in favor. However, experts remain divided on its effectiveness. Over 140 academics signed an open letter arguing that the ban is too simplistic and fails to address systemic platform design issues. UNICEF Australia expressed concerns that the changes won't fix the problems young people face online, and a paper in The Lancet Digital Health warned it could isolate marginalised groups like LGBTQ+ youth and those in rural areas.
Privacy and Enforcement Challenges
To comply with the law, platforms have implemented various age verification methods, such as:
- Facial estimation using AI
- ID uploads with government-issued documents
- Third-party verification via banking data or app store tokens
Australia's Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind has raised concerns about the widespread privacy implications of these measures. Enforcement has proven challenging, with tech-savvy teenagers using workarounds like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to mask their locations or creating new accounts with fake dates of birth. Meta reported blocking over 500,000 under-16 accounts in the first few weeks, but the ban has also driven teenagers towards alternative apps not covered, such as Lemon8, Coverstar, and Yope.
Legal Challenges and Constitutional Validity
The Australian ban faces legal scrutiny, with the High Court agreeing to hear a challenge from the Digital Freedom Project, which argues it infringes upon freedom of political communication. Reddit has filed a separate legal challenge, contending that the law undermines free expression and political discourse for young people, and that it is primarily a text-based forum not geared towards children under 18.
Implications for India and Andhra Pradesh
As the Andhra Pradesh GoM studies this model, it must navigate India's existing legal framework. Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, India mandates verifiable parental consent for users under 18, rather than a total ban. However, specific technical mechanisms for this verification are yet to be notified by the central government. Since internet regulation falls under the Information Technology Act, any state-level ban by Andhra Pradesh would likely require coordination and approval from the Union government, highlighting the complexities of implementing such measures in India's federal structure.
This exploration by Andhra Pradesh marks a proactive step towards addressing digital safety concerns, but it underscores the need for balanced approaches that consider privacy, enforcement, and the diverse needs of young users in the digital age.
