Welcome to the 'Ask Nina' series, where our co-founder, Nina Bual, answers the most pressing questions from educators around the world.
Quick Read: Studies show social media fuels anxiety, addiction, and mental health struggles—yet banning it outright might push teens to unregulated platforms like Telegram and the dark web. India, home to 250M+ young users, faces a crucial choice: follow the global crackdown or find a smarter approach. The Bottom Line: A full ban may not work, but India needs stricter regulations. Age verification, digital literacy, and screen time limits could be the smarter path forward.
A Global Debate with Lessons for India
Ah, the perennial debate: should we ban social media for under-16s? It’s the digital age’s equivalent of pondering whether to let toddlers juggle chainsaws. Governments around the world are grappling with this issue, with the UK and Australia taking serious steps. But what about India, a country with the largest population of young internet users? Let’s dive in.
The Data Speaks: A Global and Indian Perspective
In the UK, nearly two-thirds of Gen Z (16-24-year-olds) believe social media is more harmful than beneficial, labeling it toxic, addictive, and unsafe. A massive 74% support stricter regulations to protect younger users, with four out of five saying they wouldn’t want their own children using social media early.
Meanwhile, Australia is going even further—introducing a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16, set to be enforced by the end of the year with fines of up to AU$49.5 million for tech firms that don’t comply.
And what about India? Here, the situation is even more urgent. According to a 2023 study by IAMAI (Internet and Mobile Association of India), India has over 250 million users under the age of 18 actively using social media, making up a huge chunk of total users. Reports suggest that more than 50% of Indian teenagers say they feel anxious or depressed due to social media use, and 40% admit they have lost control over their screen time.
With India's digital adoption growing at breakneck speed, isn’t it time to consider stronger regulation for younger users?
Is This Just Another Moral Panic?
Of course, many argue this is just another episode of moral panic—like when television was blamed for corrupting young minds, or when video games were supposedly turning kids into violent zombies. Remember the early 2000s, when Bollywood movies were accused of making youth "too Western"? Or when parents thought Orkut (yes, that old social media platform) would ruin our futures?
But here’s the twist: this isn’t just older generations clutching their pearls. Gen Z themselves regret their screen addiction. In India, research by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) found that a majority of teenagers felt social media negatively affected their mental well-being, and many wished they had spent less time online.
When the generation raised on smartphones is actively calling for limits, you know something’s up.
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Warning Labels on Social Media—A Global Trend India Could Adopt?
In the UK, discussions are happening around putting warning labels on social media apps, similar to cigarette packets. Imagine logging onto Instagram and seeing:
“Warning: Excessive use may lead to anxiety, depression, and an inflated sense of self-importance.”The Indian government has already taken steps with its Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023), which mandates stricter controls for children’s online privacy. Could warning labels be the next step? A majority of Indian parents support tougher social media restrictions for minors, especially after concerns about online bullying, gaming addiction, and explicit content.
The Other Side of the Argument
Now, let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment. Would banning social media actually solve the problem?
It might let tech companies off the hook. Instead of being forced to design safer platforms, they might simply wash their hands of under-16s.
Teenagers will find other (unregulated) ways to socialize online. If traditional platforms are blocked, encrypted channels like Telegram, Discord, and even the dark web could see a surge in young users.
Where do we draw the line? What qualifies as “social media”? Is WhatsApp included? What about gaming platforms like Roblox, where kids interact?
Can online socializing really be controlled? With India’s smartphone penetration growing, simply banning social media might be ineffective unless digital literacy education is prioritized.
So, Should India Consider a Ban?
India is already leading in implementing parental controls on OTT platforms, banning harmful apps, and introducing digital well-being policies. But an outright ban on social media for under-16s? That’s a complex debate. Perhaps a more balanced approach—such as strict time limits, age verification, and digital literacy programs—would be a better solution than an all-out ban.
At the very least, India should watch what happens in Australia—because if their experiment works, it might not be long before policymakers here follow suit.
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