Why an Australia-Style Social Media Ban Would Be Hard to Do in India

Australia recently introduced a rule that bans children under 16 from having social media accounts, aiming to reduce online harm, addiction and exposure to unsafe content. While this may work in a country like Australia, bringing a similar rule to India would be very difficult. India’s population is huge and extremely diverse, which makes monitoring online activity much harder. Many families share one phone or device, so verifying who is using social media becomes complicated. Age verification in India also has limitations. Not all children have ID documents, Aadhaar has restrictions for minors and most phones are registered in a parent’s name. Even if strict checks are introduced, children can easily bypass them using fake birthdates, parents’ numbers or multiple accounts. Fake identities are incredibly easy to create in India, making any ban hard to enforce.

There are also legal challenges to consider, since restricting online access can clash with fundamental rights like freedom of speech and access to information. Low digital literacy in many households means parents may not fully understand the risks or how to guide children online, so even well-designed rules might fail on the ground. Finally, social media isn't just entertainment for many Indian children, it provides learning, communication and exposure to opportunities that they may not get otherwise. A ban could deepen existing inequalities by cutting off access to knowledge and digital networks.

So instead of copying Australia’s approach, India may be better off strengthening safeguards: teaching safe online behavior in schools, helping parents manage digital risks, using stricter privacy settings and improving mental health support. Protecting children doesn’t always mean removing them from the internet, it means helping them use it safely. The focus should be on empowering kids, not excluding them, because the goal is a generation that is resilient and responsible in the digital world.