FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Karnataka’s Social Media Ban Proposal Risks Undermining Digital Access and Choice, Warns Consumer Group
New Delhi, April 15 2026 – The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) cautions that Karnataka’s proposal to ban social media use for individuals under 16 risks restricting digital access without effectively addressing the underlying issues around online safety and excessive screen time.
Digital platforms today are not just spaces for entertainment but essential tools for education, communication, and skill development. CCC warns that blanket age-based bans may limit access to these benefits while doing little to address harmful content or usage patterns.
Shrey Madaan, Indian Policy Associate at the Consumer Choice Center, said:
“Protecting children online is important, but blanket bans are rarely effective. Restricting access does not remove risks; it often shifts them to less visible and less accountable spaces.”
The proposed measure places Karnataka among a growing number of jurisdictions considering age-based restrictions on social media. Similar discussions in other states, including Andhra Pradesh, suggest that such approaches could gain wider traction across India in the near future. However, CCC notes that these policies raise concerns around enforceability, proportionality, and unintended outcomes.
Age-based bans are difficult to implement at scale and are likely to be bypassed through shared accounts, alternative platforms, or simple workarounds such as Virtual Private Networks (VPN). At the same time, they risk excluding youth from bona fide and beneficial uses of digital platforms.
“Digital platforms are not only sources of concern, but also tools for learning and participation,” Madaan added. “Policy should focus on targeted safeguards and parental tools rather than broad restrictions that are difficult to enforce.”
CCC emphasizes more effective reforms, such as strengthening platform accountability, improving digital literacy, and enabling parental oversight, rather than imposing blanket prohibitions.
The CCC urges policymakers to pursue targeted, evidence-based approaches that address online harms while preserving access to digital tools that support learning and participation.
“Regulation should solve problems, not create new barriers,” Madaan concluded.