State IT Minister Nara Lokesh said the government was closely studying Australia’s under-16 social media law while speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. “As a state, we are studying Australia’s under-16 law, and I believe we need to create a strong legal framework,” Lokesh said, signalling the government’s intent to address what it views as an emerging public health and child safety issue.
Australia, in 2024, announced a nationwide policy to prevent children under 16 from accessing social media platforms. The restrictions, which came into effect on December 10, 2025, place the responsibility on technology companies to enforce age limits through robust age-verification systems. The policy was introduced following mounting evidence linking excessive social media use among children to anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, self-harm, and addictive algorithm-driven behaviour. Since the rollout, millions of teenage accounts in Australia have reportedly been restricted or deactivated.
Officials in Andhra Pradesh say similar concerns are driving discussions at the state level. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national spokesperson Deepak Reddy said the minister had raised “serious and legitimate concerns” about the mental health and safety of young users online. “The Andhra Pradesh government is studying global best practices and examining Australia’s under-16 social media law,” Reddy said, adding that the issue required a careful and informed policy response.
Sources familiar with the deliberations told TNM that senior officials are evaluating whether such a framework can be implemented within the existing legal and constitutional structure in India. While social media regulation typically falls under the purview of the central government, Andhra Pradesh is exploring avenues for state-level intervention, particularly in areas related to child welfare and digital well-being.
If the proposal moves forward, Andhra Pradesh could become the first Indian state to formally acknowledge and act on the potential harms of unrestricted social media exposure among minors. However, officials emphasised that consultations with legal experts, educators, parents, and technology platforms would be essential before any decision is taken.
The discussions come at a time when governments worldwide are grappling with how to balance digital access with child protection, as concerns grow over the long-term psychological and social effects of early and excessive engagement with social media.
