Should India ban social media access for teens?

Three minor sisters ended their lives early on February 4, 2026 after jumping off the balcony of a ninth-floor flat in Ghaziabad, as their parents had restricted mobile phone usage, the police said. During their investigation, the police learnt that the children had dropped out of school in 2020. In the note that they left behind, they had written that they were not being allowed to watch Shinchan, Doraemon, TV serials, and felt very lonely

A U.S. lawsuit accuses major social media platforms—including Snapchat, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube—of deliberately designing addictive features that harm young users. Snapchat confirmed it made a deal to avoid a U.S. civil trial accusing it, along with Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, of addicting young people to social media. Lawsuits accusing social media platforms of practices endangering young users are also making their way through federal court in Northern California and state courts across the country.

On December 10, 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to implement a social media ban on users under the age of 16. The ban blocks children from accessing nearly 10 big social platforms, including X and Facebook. Spain and Greece join countries such as Britain and France in considering tougher stances on social media.

In India, Andhra Pradesh’s Information Technology and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh has said that the State government is contemplating imposing a ban on access to social media for children below 16 years, like in Australia, to protect them from its harmful impact. Welcoming the move, Telugu Desam Party national spokesperson G. Deepak Reddy said Mr. Lokesh has rightly highlighted the serious concern surrounding the impact of social media on the mental health and safety of children.

When governments regulate platforms, schools and edtech will be forced to adapt: Age-gating, verified learner identities, and restricted social features for minors. To delve deeper into this topic, The Hindu will host a webinar, ‘Should India ban social media access for teens?’, on February 14 at 5:00 p.m. The panellists include: Prof. Sheetal Shinde, Assistant Professor of Law, BITS Law School; Kshitija Sawant, University Psychologist & Counsellor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University; Chetna Israni, Co-Founder & Director, Morning Star BrandCom; Aroon Deep, Principal Correspondent, The Hindu. The webinar will be moderated by Ravina Warkad, Senior Sub-Editor, Education Vertical, The Hindu.

Register now for free to ask questions and interact with the panellists. The three best questions will receive a free online subscription to The Hindu.

Panellists

Prof. Sheetal Shinde, Assistant Professor of Law, BITS Law School

Sheetal Shinde N. is an Assistant Professor of Law at BITS Law School. She has previously served as an Academic Fellow at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru. Her research spans diverse domains of law, with a focus on child rights, women’s rights, and environmental law. She has worked on projects funded by NITI Aayog and the Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR), examining the impact of amendments to the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

Kshitija Sawant, University Psychologist & Counsellor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University

Kshitija Sawant is a mental health professional with over 12 years of experience in supporting teenagers and adults from diverse cultural backgrounds. She currently serves as a Psychologist and Counselor at Somaiya Vidyavihar University (SVU) and manages a private practice in Mumbai, India. Her approach focuses on making mental health and emotional intelligence education accessible, empathetic, and relevant to today’s youth and educators alike.

Chetna Israni, Co-Founder & Director, Morning Star BrandCom

Chetna Israni, with 18 years of experience spanning areas such as marketing, brand consulting, and organisational development, has worked with brands across FMCG, BFSI, as well as an ensemble of start-ups, SMEs, and family-managed businesses (FMBs). As the mother of a 13-year-old and a communication professional who understands how social media is designed, consumed, and amplified, she offers a balanced view of both the opportunities and the risks children face online—bridging the gap between industry intent and parental reality.

Aroon Deep, Principal Correspondent, The Hindu

Aroon Deep is a Principal Correspondent at The Hindu’s national bureau in New Delhi, covering tech policy and telecommunications.

(For any feedback or suggestions, reach out to us at education@thehindu.co.in)

Published – February 09, 2026 12:04 pm IST