Karnataka Considers Mobile Phone Ban For Students Under 16 Amid 'Social Media Addiction Concerns'

Bengaluru, Karnataka: The Karnataka government is considering ways to impose a ban on mobile phones for students under 16 years of age, amid increased concerns over addiction leading to poor academic and health issues.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Sunday that his government is exploring ways to implement the mobile ban move. The state is consulting education experts and officials, following similar proposals in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and even from IT Minister Priyank Kharge.

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Parents have shared miserable stories of teens who use social media platforms such as Instagram and get distracted. Several people online have praised the idea for protecting young brains.

However, the critics called the potential mobile phone ban a government overreach and raised enforcement challenges like privacy invasions. Notably, the global moves, like Australia’s under-16 social media ban and California’s proposal, highlight the worldwide parental push to curb tech’s addictive pull.

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Notably, on Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he wanted to ban teens under the age of 16 from social media.