Andhra Pradesh plans to ban social media use for children under 13

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said that the state government is planning to introduce measures to restrict the use of social media for children under the age of 13 to protect them from its potential negative impact, The Hindu reported.

This came after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced earlier in the day that the Congress government in the state will ban the use of social media for children under the age of 16.

Speaking in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Naidu said that the proposal made by state Information Technology and Education Minister Nara Lokesh is being considered.

The measure is likely to be rolled out within the next 90 days, Naidu added.

The Telugu Desam Party government is also examining possible regulations for children in the 13-16 age group, the chief minister said, adding that a final decision will be taken after wider consultations.

The state government is committed to safeguarding children from the harmful effects of excessive social media usage and ensuring their overall well-being, he said.

In Karnataka, Siddaramaiah announced the ban on the use of social media for children under the age of 16 while presenting the state Budget for the financial year 2026-’27. The Congress leader said the decision had been taken “to protect children from the harmful effects of excessive mobile and social media use”.

He did not mention when the ban would take effect.

Once implemented, Karnataka will become the first state in the country to impose such a ban.

In 2025, the Andhra Pradesh government had said that it was considering a ban on social media for children under the age of 16.

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Lokesh said after Siddaramaiah’s proposal on Friday. “Sometimes good ideas travel fast. Wishing them success in taking it forward.”

After the Karnataka government’s announcement, the advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation said that child safety online “demands serious, evidence-based policy not headline-driven prohibitions”.

It added that the announcement raises questions about whether its implementation will require state legislation, or if it will mandate age-verification systems that “create fresh privacy risks for all users, including adults”.

Also read:

• Social media bans won’t keep teenagers safe – Finland shows a better approach

• Australia’s social media ban for underage teens, children kicks in. Will other countries follow?