The Goa government is examining whether it can legally ban children below the age of 16 from using social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X, following complaints from parents about the impact of excessive screen time on children, according to a Financial Express report.
Goa Tourism and Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte said the state is reviewing Australia’s recent law on restricting children’s access to social media and has asked officials to study whether a similar approach is possible in Goa.
“Australia has brought in a law ensuring a ban on social media for children below the age of 16. Our [IT] department people have already pulled out those particular papers. We are studying them. We will talk to the chief minister, and if possible, implement a similar ban on children below 16 for usage of social media,” Khaunte told reporters on Monday.
He said the government has not taken any decision yet and is still assessing whether it can legally and practically impose a state-wide ban. After discussions with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the government may issue a formal statement before the next session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Parental complaints and concerns over children’s screen time
According to the minister, the proposal is driven by long-standing concerns raised by parents. “We have had a lot of complaints from parents. Social media and some of these platforms are becoming a distraction for the children, leading to a lot of social implications,” he said.
Khaunte said children are spending increasing amounts of time on these platforms, even during family activities. “Today, the children are always on their mobiles on social media, whether it is at the dining table or while watching television or around family. So, the personal space occupied by social media is so large, which is also putting a sort of complex on the children,” he said.
Similar moves to ban social media in Andhra Pradesh
Goa’s move comes after similar deliberations in Andhra Pradesh, where the state government set up a Group of Ministers to examine whether it should restrict children under-16 from accessing social media. The panel is studying Australian legislation, existing Indian laws, and enforcement challenges and will submit its recommendations to the state government.
The issue has also drawn judicial attention. In December 2025, the Madras High Court urged the Union government to consider Australia-like legislation restricting children’s access to such platforms and called for stronger awareness measures around online harms and parental controls.
Global push to regulate children’s access to social media
Australia’s law, known as the Online Safety Amendment Act, places responsibility on platforms to take reasonable steps to identify and deactivate accounts held by users under 16, prevent new account creation by minors, and block methods that allow children to bypass…
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