Supreme Court Rejects Petition To Ban Social Media For Children Under 13
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Friday dismissed a petition seeking to prohibit children under 13 from using social media, deeming it a policy matter that should be addressed by the Parliament.
The petition, which raised concerns about the harmful effects of social media on young minds, proposed stringent age verification systems or such biometric authentication and parental control measures.
The top court, while refusing to intervene directly, allowed the petitioner to approach the relevant authorities with their concerns for further consideration.
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The petition highlighted the rising mental health crisis among children in India, citing alarming increases in depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rates directly linked to social media overuse.
However, the bench stated that the matter is one of policy and suggested that the petitioner approach the Parliament to enact the necessary legislation.
Some experts referenced in the petition point to mounting evidence of the detrimental impact that excessive social media consumption has on the physical, mental, and psychological well-being of minors.
It was argued that children, particularly those under 13, are exposed to unregulated content and addictive algorithms, leading to severe cognitive impairments and heightened emotional distress.
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The plea also stated the need for digital literacy campaigns to educate parents, teachers, and children about the risks of excessive social media engagement.
India is home to over 462 million active social media users, with a major portion of its population under the age of 18.
Studies indicate that a large number of minors are spending excessive hours daily on social media and gaming platforms, contributing to an “unprecedented mental health crisis.”
