Goa Government Studies Social Media Ban for Children Under 16
In a significant move aimed at protecting young minds, the Goa government is actively studying the possibility of implementing a ban on social media usage for children under the age of 16. This initiative comes in response to numerous complaints from parents who have expressed growing concerns about the negative impact of social media platforms on their children's development and focus.
Minister Rohan Khaunte Addresses Parental Concerns
Goa's Tourism and Information Technology Minister, Rohan Khaunte, confirmed that the matter is under serious consideration. "We have had a lot of complaints from parents. Social media and some of these platforms are becoming a distraction for the children, leading to a lot of social implications," Khaunte stated during a media interaction on Sunday.
The minister revealed that his department has already obtained relevant documents from Australia, which recently enacted similar legislation. "Australia has brought in a law ensuring a ban on social media for children below the age of 16. It is something they have already done. Our [IT] department, our people have already pulled out those particular papers. We are studying them," he explained.
Focus on Education and Future Preparedness
According to Minister Khaunte, the primary objective behind this potential ban is to redirect children's attention toward more productive pursuits. "The overall thought is to have children more focused on education and technology related to education," he emphasized.
He further elaborated on the importance of this shift in the current technological landscape: "In the world of Artificial Intelligence, we need them to be more focused on this, which can make them good citizens and take care of the future of the state and the country. The social impact will be positive."
Examining the Australian Model
The Australian legislation, known as the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, imposes strict requirements on social media platforms:
- Platforms must take reasonable steps to identify existing accounts held by users under 16
- They are required to deactivate or remove such accounts
- Platforms must prevent under-16s from creating new accounts
- They need to implement measures to prevent workarounds that might allow minors to bypass restrictions
- Processes must be established to correct errors if someone is mistakenly included or excluded from restrictions
Growing Concerns About Social Media's Impact
Minister Khaunte highlighted the pervasive nature of social media in children's lives today: "Today, the children are always on their mobiles on social media, whether it is at the dining table or while watching television or around family. So, the personal space occupied by social media is so large, which is also putting a sort of complex in the children."
The Goa government is carefully examining whether a state-wide ban is feasible and legally permissible. "Australia has done it and we need to look at the IT laws of the country. But at the same time, whether a state-wide ban is possible [or not], we are studying. And if it is possible, we would want to do it to ensure that things go well for the next generation," Khaunte added.
Similar Moves Across Indian States
This development in Goa follows closely on the heels of similar considerations in Andhra Pradesh. Last week, Andhra Pradesh's IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh announced that the Telugu Desam Party-led government was contemplating an Australia-like social media ban for children under 16. A Group of Ministers headed by Lokesh has been constituted to study the proposal in detail.
The Goa government plans to present a formal statement on this matter before the next Assembly session, following consultations with the Chief Minister. This potential policy shift represents a growing recognition among Indian states of the need to address the challenges posed by unrestricted social media access for minors, balancing technological advancement with child welfare and educational priorities.
