Australia Bans Social Media for Under-16s – Should India Follow? Experts Say YES. Inside the debate that’s shaking parents, teachers and policymakers, here comes a detailed story merging feedback from different people…
Australia has taken a bold, world-first leap: from 10 December, children under 16 will be completely banned from using major social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Threads, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok and X.
Meta has already begun shutting down accounts of users aged 13-15, sending warnings and allowing teens to download their posts before profiles vanish. The aim, as Australian PM Anthony Albanese says, is simple: “Letting kids be kids.”
But the ripple effect has reached India prompting a heated discussion on whether our country needs such a ban too.
Why Australia pulled the plug
Regulators revealed that over 350,000 Australian teens aged 13–15 are active on Instagram alone. Platforms now face massive fines if they fail to block underage users. Meta has introduced strict age verification from video selfies to ID checks but even it admits: “Teens are resourceful.” The intention is clear: Protect children from harmful content, online pressures, adult strangers and unrealistic beauty standards.
Would this work in India?
“Kids should be barred from using social media without guidance,” says Archana Sharma, senior journalist, adding that constantly being on screen often stops learning process and it is dangerous for kids. Her quotes is as following:
“Social Development is better than Social Media.”
Dr Archana Sharma, A Senior Journalist
- CA Sonal Jain, father of a 10-year-old warns that while social media is fun for adults, it damages the attention span, confidence and emotional health of children.
He explains that banning it would help Indian kids to- Play more outdoor games, build interpersonal skills, develop real hobbies, sleep and concentrate better and most importantly grow at a natural pace
“Childhood comes only once – let kids be kids. More ground, less screen,” he says.
“Good move, but difficult to implement in India,” says Dr. Surbhi Jain, Professor & mother of a 9-month-old
She supports the idea but warns that monitoring millions of minors across India is nearly impossible without a strong system.
“It should happen but India is not ready, says CA Jaya Sogani & CA Prakhar Luhadia on banning social media for teens in india.
Both agree the ban is necessary but doubt the feasibility in a diverse country like India where digital access varies widely.
“Social media makes kids mature too early and into the wrong things.”
Rishita, Young Journalist: She highlights how children today learn trends, language, behaviour and lifestyle far beyond their age. “We grew up watching cartoons and playing outside kids today grow up competing for followers. Their creativity shrinks, emotions get influenced, and exposure to adult content steals their innocence.”
So, should India ban social media for kids?
With Instagram already offering parental supervision tools in India since February 2025, the discussion has begun. But experts agree on one thing: unrestricted social media harms children: mentally, emotionally and socially. Whether India adopts a total ban like Australia or a stricter supervision model, the message from parents and professionals is clear:
To protect our children, we need limits.
Because childhood should be lived offline not scrolled away.
(The author is Rishita Sogani, a student pursuing PG in Journalism from Haridev University in Jaipur)