Amaravati, April 10: The Andhra Pradesh government is set to implement a comprehensive regulatory framework to prohibit social media usage for children under the age of 13. Additionally, steps will be taken to create an age-appropriate digital environment for teenagers.
During a high-level meeting of ministers, IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh directed the formulation of this law. He emphasized that the legislation will balance digital access, child safety, creativity, and mental health.
Minister Lokesh also advocated for a phased content access system for children aged 13 to 16, aimed at protecting them from harmful or inappropriate material.
According to a government statement, the proposed framework will align with global standards. Models from countries like Singapore, Australia, and Denmark will be studied to develop a robust legal and technical system tailored to India’s needs.
To ensure compliance, the government is considering a secure age verification system, potentially using “age tokens” linked to DigiLocker. This will allow social media platforms to verify users’ ages without compromising privacy.
Representatives from major social media platforms, including Meta, YouTube, X, ShareChat, and Josh, participated in the meeting and shared information on existing safety measures. They expressed a willingness to collaborate with the state government to implement these initiatives.
The state government will also seek public suggestions on this matter and will send recommendations to the central government regarding issues within its jurisdiction, paving the way for national policy development in the future.
Minister Lokesh stated that strict action will be taken against those posting derogatory or hateful content against women. He has instructed to strengthen enforcement under Section 46 of the IT Act and expedite the appointment of decisive authorities.
Recognizing that merely creating rules is insufficient, the government plans to launch large-scale awareness campaigns across the state. This will include educating students about digital safety during ‘No Bag Days’ in schools, raising awareness among parents and students through mega PTMs, and providing cyber safety information to women through self-help groups.
The aim of this initiative is to enhance digital literacy alongside regulatory measures to ensure children’s online safety.
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